Alachua County Area
Storm Spotting Locations Project

(NOTE: This site is a work in progress. Bear with us.)


[ Back to Alachua County Storm Spotter's Handbook ]

CONTENTS:


Introduction:

This is a project I'd been meaning to put together since around 2003/4, when I first had the idea. I'd long wanted to have a sort of database of places around the county where storm spotters could go to so as to find open views of the sky from which to observe approaching storms. There are more places out there to stop and view things than you might actually realize.

In my job with the Census Bureau, I am always travelling about. The job offers me opportunity to see many places around Florida, many of which I had never known existed even in my own county. It also happens to give me opportunity to be on the lookout for places that might make great candidates for storm spotting. In my travels, I've often stopped alongside the road to take some photos and/or videos, and jotted down where each spot was located. Over time, I intended to eventually put together just this very database.

Sometimes being able to see a storm from a distance is important. A spotter's observations of a storm's external features, coupled with radar indications, can help a meteorologist make a better determination as to how severe a storm is becoming. For example, does the tower have a twisted, corkscrewed appearance indicative of a rotating mesosyclone? Can a wall cloud, or funnel, or tornado be seen at the base of the storm? Is there a greenish tinge to the storm's clouds? Does the anvil have a bubbling overhooting top - one which appears and disappears repeatedly? Is there mammatus on the underside of the anvil? Does the anvil have a kind of "lip" on it's edge? Sometimes viewing storms from a distance can still yeiled helpful information. But when things start to happen, I've often found myself trying really hard to think of all those places I'd passed by in my travels which provided wide-open viewing. I could never remember. I could remember what the places looked like, but I could never remember WHERE they were when I neded to - because there were so many for one; and, to be quite honest, because while in the course of normal travels, you just never think about those lonely places like that while you're passing them by.

People might be out travelling, visiting friends, or family, and come upon some storms while they're out. They may find themselves in unfamiliar territory, not knowing where the closest viewing area is near them at the time. Using this database, it is hoped that it will save spotters much time in being able to prepare themselves.

Some of the panoramas could be prettier. I'll work on that in the future. For now though, the important thing is the horizon offered, and these photos show that adequately enough.

Todd Sherman, Coordinator
Alachua County SKYWARN


Alachua County
Spotting Locations List

  1. SW 2nd Ave & SW 34th St (SR-121)
    N, W, S
    Okay
    Bldgs, trees
    2007

  2. 1800 NW 12th Ave & Waldo Rd
    Gainesville
    Walmart Supercenter
    360-degrees
    Bldgs, trees
    Okay
    2010

  3. NW 13th St (US-441) & NW 29th Rd
    Gainesville
    Walmart
    Prkg lot, bldgs
    SSW-NW
    Good
    12/2009
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  4. NW 13th St (US-441) & NW 29th Rd
    Gainesville
    Lowes Home Improvement
    SSW-NW
    Prkg lot, bldgs
    Good
    12/2009
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  5. NW 13th St (US-441) & NW 34th St (N SR-121)
    Gainesville
    Farmer's Mkt
    Bldgs, trees
    NE, N, W, SW
    Good
    2007

  6. NW 13th St (US HWY 441) & NW 43rd St
    Gainesville
    Deerhaven Marathon Stn.
    360-degs
    Near gas stn, trees, bldgs
    Good
    12/2009
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  7. NW 13th St (US-441) & NW 50th Ave
    Gainesville
    Streit's Honda
    NE, N, W, SE, S, SE
    Okay
    84 Lumber, bldgs, trees
    2007
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  8. NW 13th St (US-441) & NW 50th Ave
    Gainesville
    NW, W, SW, SE
    The Rancher pkg lot, bldgs, trees
    Okay
    2007
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  9. NW 13th St (US-441) & NW 50th Ave
    Gainesville
    NW, NE, SE
    Pkg lot, trees, bldgs
    Okay
    2007

  10. 5150 NW 13th St (US-441)
    Gainesville
    Home Depot parking lot
    N, E, SE
    Bldgs, trees
    Okay
    2007

  11. 7605 NW 13th St (US-441)
    Gainesville
    Conrad Yelvington Distributing, Inc.
    N, NE
    Trees, near business
    Limited views
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  12. SE 15th St & SE 8th Ave
    Gainesville
    Lincoln Park
    360-degs
    Bldgs, trees
    Good
    2007

  13. SW 20th Ave & SW 43rd St
    Gainesville
    360-degs
    Trees, bldgs
    Good
    2007

  14. NW 23th St & NW 62nd Ave
    Gainesville
    Old Winn-Dixie pkg lot
    Bldgs, trees
    360-degs
    Okay
    2007
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  15. SW 23rd St & SW Williston Rd (SR-331)
    N, S (excellent)
    E (good), W (okay)
    Trees
    2007

  16. NW 34th St (N SR-121) & NW 58th Ave
    Gainesville
    Northwood Park
    NE, N, W, SW
    Trees, bldgs
    Good
    2007
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  17. SW 34th St & Hull Rd
    Gainesville
    University Hilton
    N, W, S
    Okay
    Bldgs, trees
    2007

  18. SW 34th St (SR-121) & SW 47th Ave
    Post Office
    360-degs
    Bldgs, trees
    Excellent
    2007

  19. NW 37th St & NW 58th Pl
    * PRIVATE PROPERTY - GET PERMISSION *
    N, E, SE
    Some maneuvering reqd, trees
    Okay
    2007

  20. NW 39th Ave (SR-222) & NW 92nd Ct
    Gainesville
    39th Ave Publix
    360-degs
    Bldgs, trees
    Good
    2008
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  21. NW 43rd St & NW 93rd Ave
    Gainesville
    WSW - WNW
    Busy highway, Near homes, some trees
    Good
    12/2009
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  22. NE 50th St (NW CR-20) & NW 298th St (CR-2085)
    W
    Good
    Trees
    2007

  23. NE 52nd Dr
    N, W, S
    Trees
    Good
    01/2009

  24. NW 53rd Ave & NW 43rd St
    Gainesville
    Possum Creek Park
    360-degs
    Okay
    Trees, bldgs
    2007
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  25. NW 59th St & NW 93rd Ave
    Gainesville
    E only
    Bushes, near homes, dirt road
    12/2009
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  26. 3000 NW 83rd St
    Gainesville
    SFCC Campus Ballfield
    NW-SW
    Bldgs, trees
    Good
    2007

  27. NW 91st Ave & NW 222nd St
    Alachua
    Views: N, W, S
    Trees
    12/2009
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  28. NW 93rd Ave & NW 59th St
    Gainesville
    Views: W, S, E
    Near homes
    12/2009
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  29. NW 94th Ave & NW 143rd St (CR-241)
    W
    Near busy highway, trees
    Good
    12/2009

  30. NW 94th Ave & NW 153rd Ter
    S
    Near busy hwy, trees
    Good
    12/2009

  31. NW 104th Ter & US HWY 441
    S-SW
    Bldgs, trees
    Good
    2007

  32. 18000 Block NW 138th Ave
    N, S
    Good
    Trees
    2007

  33. 19000 Block NW 138th Ave
    S
    Good
    Trees
    2007

  34. NW 138th Ave & NW 173rd St (CR-235A)
    E, S, W
    Good
    Trees
    2007

  35. NW 138th Ave & NW 214th Ter
    S
    Good
    Trees
    2007

  36. NW 138th Ter & NW 2nd Ln
    360-degs
    Trees, bldgs, under constr
    Good

  37. NW 140th Ter & NW 2nd Ln
    360-degs
    Trees, bldgs, under constr
    Good

  38. NW 140th St (CR-241) & NW 118th Ave
    W
    Near busy hwy, trees
    Good
    12/2009

  39. NW 142nd Ave & US-41 (US-27)
    S
    Okay
    Trees
    2007

  40. NW 142nd Ave & NW 230th St
    360-degs
    Good
    Trees
    2007

  41. NW 143rd St (CR-241)
    360-degs
    Near busy hwy, trees, hills
    Good
    12/2009

  42. NW 143rd St (CR-241)
    N, W, S
    Near busy hwy, trees, hills
    Good
    12/2009

  43. NW 143rd St (CR-241) & NW 32nd Ave
    360-degs
    Near busy hwy, trees, homes
    Good
    2008

  44. NW 143rd St (CR-241) & NW 39th Ave (SR-222)
    360-degs
    Near homes, trees
    Good
    2008

  45. NW 143rd St (CR-241) & NW 69th Ave (SR-232) Pullover
    N, W, S
    Near busy hwy, trees, hills
    Good
    12/2009

  46. NW 143rd St (CR-241) & NW 88th Pl
    360-degs
    Near busy hwy, trees, homes
    Good
    2008

  47. 15910 NW 144th Ter
    Alachua
    Lowes Home Improvement
    SW, W, NW
    Bldgs to SE, E
    Good
    2009
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  48. NW 147th Dr & NW 160th Ln
    Alachua
    N, W, S
    Bldgs, trees
    Homes being constructed.
    (This entry may soon be removed.)
    Okay
    2009
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  49. 15100 NW 150th Ct
    Alachua
    One 51 Apartments
    West end parking lot
    WSW, W, N
    Bldgs, hills
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  50. NW 173rd St (CR-235A) & Peggy Rd (CR-2054)
    Alachua
    360-degs
    Near busy hwy, trees
    Good
    2007

  51. NW 195th St & NW 138th Ave
    N, NW
    Good
    Trees
    2007

  52. NW 298th St (CR-2085) & NW 174th Ter
    360-degs
    Good
    Trees
    2007

  53. NW 298th St (CR-2085) & NE 30th St (CR-24)
    360-degs
    Good
    Trees
    2007

  54. SW Archer Rd (SR-24) & SW 23rd St
    Gainesville
    360-degs
    Okay
    Trees, bldgs
    2007

  55. SW Archer Rd (SR-24) & SW 34th St (SR-121)
    Gainesville
    Carrabbas parking lot
    NW, W, SW
    Trees, bldgs
    Good
    2007

  56. 3570 SW Archer Rd
    Gainesville
    Walmart
    360-degrees
    Good, some moving around required
    Bldgs, trees
    2007

  57. SW Archer Rd (SR-24) & SW 37th Blvd
    Gainesville
    E, S, W
    Okay
    Bldgs
    2007

  58. SW Archer Rd (SR-24) & Center Dr
    Gainesville
    360-degrees
    Excellent
    Pkg lot rooftop, bldgs
    * TOLLS *
    2007

  59. Bledsoe Dr & Radio Rd
    Gainesville
    W
    Okay
    Baseball fields, bldgs, trees
    2007

  60. CR-24 & NW 298th St (CR-2085)
    N, NE
    Good
    Trees
    2007

  61. 11211 NW CR-225
    Near GatorNational Speedway
    N, E, S
    Trees
    Good
    2008

  62. CR-236 N of CR-235A
    E, SE, S, SW
    Good
    Some trees
    2009
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  63. CR-237 N of NW 156th Ave
    Alachua
    N, E, S
    Trees
    Good
    2011
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  64. CR-239 N of CR-235
    Alachua
    N, W, S
    Trees
    Okay
    2011
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  65. CR-239 S of NW 206th Ave
    E
    Okay
    Trees
    2011

  66. 23000 Block CR-1493
    E
    Near busy hwy, trees
    Good
    2008

  67. Hull Rd & Bledsoe Dr
    Gainesville
    University of Florida
    Harn Museum
    W, N, E
    Good
    Bldgs, trees
    2007

  68. I-75 Rest Stop
    Gainesville
    SE, S
    Bldgs, trees
    Excellent
    2007
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  69. Museum Rd & Radio Rd
    Gainesville
    University of Florida
    S, W
    Okay
    Open field, trees, bldgs
    2007

  70. W Newberry Rd (SR-26) & NW 62nd St
    Gainesville
    Oaks Mall parking lot
    360-degs
    Okay
    Bldgs, trees
    Moving aorund reqd
    2007

  71. W Newberry (SR-26) & SW 143rd St (CR-241)
    360-degs
    Trees, bldgs
    Good

  72. Radio Rd & Bledsoe Dr
    Gainesville
    University of Florida
    W
    Okay
    Trees, bldgs
    2007

  73. Radio Rd & Museum Rd
    Gainesville
    University of Florida
    W
    Okay
    Trees, bldgs
    2007

  74. SR-26 (Newberry Rd) & NW 226th St
    Newberry
    W, N, E
    Near busy hwy, trees
    Good
    2009

  75. SR-121 N of LaCrosse
    LaCrosse
    N-W, SW, N-E-SE
    Near busy hwy, trees
    Good views all dirs w/some moving around
    2008
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  76. N SR-121 & NW 67th Pl
    360-degs
    Near busy hwy, bldgs, trees
    Good
    2008

  77. N SR-121 & NW 147th Ln
    W
    Near homes, trees
    Good
    2008

  78. 17000 Block N SR-121
    E
    Near hwy
    Good
    2008

  79. SR-235 S of LaCrosse
    LaCrosse
    0.3m W of SR-121
    N, W, S
    Near busy hwy, trees
    Good
    2008

  80. W Univ. Ave (SR-26) & SW 34th St (SR-121)
    Gainesville
    W, N, E
    Okay
    Bldgs, trees
    2007

  81. NE Waldo Rd (SR-24) & NE 140th Ter
    Gainesville
    Near Gainesville Regional Airport runway
    E, S, NW
    Bldgs, trees
    Excellent
    12/2009
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  82. NE Waldo Rd (SR-24) & NE 15th St
    Gainesville
    Citizen's Field park
    E, W
    Bldgs, trees
    Okay
    2007

  83. NW Waldo Rd (SR-24) & NE 63rd Ave
    W-SW
    Near busy hwy, trees
    Good
    2007

  84. SW Williston Rd (SR-331) & SW 34th St (SR-121)
    Gainesville
    Publix parking lot (Butler Plaza)
    N, E, S
    Bldgs, trees
    Good
    2007

  85. US HWY 301
    1.46m N of Waldo
    Waldo
    360-degs
    Near busy hwy, bldgs, trees
    Good
    2008

  86. US HWY 301
    1.25m S of SR-26
    N, W, SW
    Trees, bldgs
    Good

  87. US-441 & NW 4th St
    N, NW
    Okay
    Trees, bldgs
    2007

  88. US HWY 441 & Southern Precast Dr
    Alachua
    E, S, SW
    Good
    12/2009
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

  89. US HWY 441 & 158th Ln
    S
    Bldgs, trees
    Good
    2008

  90. US HWY 441 & NW 173rd St (CR-235A)
    360-degs
    Trees
    Good
    2007

  91. US HWY 441 & NW 173rd St (CR-235A)
    NW-W, S-SW
    Bldgs, trees
    Okay
    2007

  92. US-441 & NW 188th St
    N, S
    Okay
    Trees, bldgs
    2007

  93. US-441 & NW 207th Ter
    NW, N, E, SE
    Good
    Trees
    2007

  94. US-441 & SE 17th St
    E, N
    Okay
    Bldgs, trees
    2007

  95. US-441 & NE Ponce De Leon Dr
    N, E, S
    Okay
    Bldgs, trees
    2007

  96. US-441 / Paynes Prairie
    Gainesville
    Paynes Prairie Obs Ramp
    360-degs
    * NO OBSTRUCTIONS *
    Excellent
    2007
    [ Click Image For Larger Picture ]

[ Back To CONTENTS ]


Alachua County Spotting Locations Project
Data compiled by Todd L. Sherman.
For additions, deletions, error corrections, etc.,
Please e-mail: spottinglocations@alachuaskywarn.org
Page Created: June 19, 2011.
Last Updated: June 27, 2011.

Page and Data Copyright © 2006- by Alachua County SKYWARN.
All Rights Reserved.

*** This file continually updated. ***
*** Keep checking online for updates. ***


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