Rockledge Waterspout-Tornado
August 6, 2003

Photo courtesy of Marcello Maceroni

Photo courtesy of Marcello Maceroni

Event Discussion

The east coast sea breeze pushed just inland during the early afternoon of 8/6/2003.  Meanwhile, isolated showers and lightning storms formed across eastern parts of Orange and Osceola counties.  This activity pushed an outflow boundary back towards the coast which collided with the sea breeze.  By about 130 pm, an isolated strong storm formed over northern portions of Cape Canaveral due to this boundary collision and pushed slowly east, then gradually diminished. 

A second storm fired up further south a short time later and drifted south along the sea breeze boundary.  Because of the rapid development and intensification of this storm, a Special Marine Warning was issued at 205 pm for the Brevard county coast.  A short time later, numerous reports of a funnel cloud, or tornado, or waterspout occurring in the Rockledge area were received at the Melbourne office.  Radar imagery showed that the storm producing the apparent tornado was over the Indian River and moving south, but due to the close proximity to land areas, a tornado warning was issued at 230 pm.  The storm weakened by 245 pm and the Tornado Warning was cancelled before 3 pm.

Though this waterspout/tornado was visually impressive, a NWS Survey Team could find no evidence of significant damage, but potted trees and an unattached trellis were knocked over at Rockledge Gardens nursery, on US1.  Employees of Rockledge Gardens witnessed the weak tornado as it passed overhead at about 230 pm.

Products Issued:

1045 am Hazardous Weather Outlook
1152 am Short Term Forecast
151 pm Short Term Forecast
205 pm Special Marine Warning
230 pm Tornado Warning
252 pm Severe Weather Statement

Track Map:

Pictures:
Funnel Cloud Development
Funnel Cloud 2
Funnel cloud 3
Tornado stage
Tornado stage 2
Waterspout stage
Dissipating or "rope" stage
Photos courtesy of Marcello Maceroni
 

Satellite Imagery:

Infrared Satellite Loop

    Radar Imagery:

Velocity Loop

Reflectivity Loop

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Posted August 7, 2003
BCH / DLJ