Florida, 1993

Tornadoes and Hail in Florida, March 13, 1993

March 13, 1993 · 68 events in 31 counties and zones

58 thunderstorm wind, 8 tornado, 2 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 67 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
4
Injuries
77
Property damage
$97 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
68

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 116 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

58 thunderstorm wind, 8 tornado, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Volusia

When
March 13, 12:00 AM EST
Where
Volusia County, Deland
Measured
64 kt (74 mph)
Coordinates
29.063, -81.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A thunderstorm gust to 74 mph was recorded.

Thunderstorm Wind, Manatee

When
March 13, 12:00 AM EST
Where
Manatee County, Terra Ceia Bay
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
27.478, -82.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A man who lived on a houseboat drowned while apparently attempting to evacuate the boat in strong winds. (M43O)

Tornado, Pinellas

When
March 13, 12:00 AM EST
Where
Pinellas County, Treasure Island
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
27.903, -82.739 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A waterspout moved over Treasure Island tearing the roof off one house and damaging several other houses and a few boats before dissipating.

Tornado, Pasco

When
March 13, 12:04 AM EST
Where
Pasco County, New Port Richey
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
10 yd
Injuries
11 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
28.307, -82.439 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A small tornado damaged several homes. Eleven people suffered minor injuries.

Hail, Pinellas

When
March 13, 12:06 AM EST
Where
Pinellas County, Seminole
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
27.903, -82.739 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dime-size hail was reported by a storm spotter.

Thunderstorm Wind, Manatee

When
March 13, 12:07 AM EST
Where
Manatee County, Bradenton
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
27.478, -82.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm gusts blew a large tree into a mobile home.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hillsborough

When
March 13, 12:09 AM EST
Where
Hillsborough County to Tampa
Measured
83 kt (96 mph)
Coordinates
27.906, -82.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind gusts to 95 mph were reported in Tampa.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pinellas

When
March 13, 12:14 AM EST
Where
Pinellas County, Tarpon Springs
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
27.903, -82.739 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds damaged a house and the combination of wind and storm surge led to the evacuation of 15 people.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hillsborough

When
March 13, 12:14 AM EST
Where
Hillsborough County, Tampa
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Coordinates
27.906, -82.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

,,,,,,,,Hail (0.75) The Port of Tampa reported a wind gust to 75 mph. Dime-size hail was reported 2 miles west of Tampa International Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind, Manatee

When
March 13, 12:15 AM EST
Where
Manatee County, Bradenton
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
27.478, -82.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds ripped the roof off two wings of a hospital building.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hernando

When
March 13, 12:15 AM EST to 12:30 AM EST
Where
Hernando County
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
28.556, -82.468 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds blew the roofs of several homes. Numerous trees and power lines were also blown down.

Tornado, Alachua

When
March 13, 12:20 AM EST
Where
Alachua County, Lacrosse
Rating
F1
Path length
0.8 mi
Path width
60 yd
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries
4 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$5.0 million
Coordinates
29.675, -82.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A tornado destroyed a mobile home killing one person and injuring four others. A few houses were destroyed by the tornado and a resulting propane explosion at one of the residences. Trees and power lines were blown down. (F05M)

Thunderstorm Wind, Sarasota

When
March 13, 12:20 AM EST
Where
Sarasota County, Sarasota
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Coordinates
27.183, -82.365 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A wind gust to 59 mph was reported by the EOC.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hillsborough

When
March 13, 12:20 AM EST
Where
Hillsborough County, Tampa
Property damage
$5.0 million
Coordinates
27.906, -82.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds knocked down numerous trees and power lines. Roofs of portable classrooms at two schools were damaged.

Tornado, Marion

When
March 13, 12:20 AM EST to 12:37 AM EST
Where
Marion County, Sw to Ne Ocala
Rating
F2
Path length
15 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$50 million
Coordinates
29.210, -82.057 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A tornado formed 8 miles southwest of Ocala in a wooded area. It snapped off trees before heavily damaging two hangers and destroying another at the Ocala Airport. It continued northeast snapping off numerous trees, then moved over an industrial area where it heavily damaged several storage buildings and a warehouse. It moved through a wooded area dissipating about seven miles northeast of Ocala.

Tornado, Lake

When
March 13, 12:30 AM EST
Where
Lake County, Mt. Dora
Rating
F2
Path length
30 mi
Path width
200 yd
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries
60 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$5.0 million
Coordinates
28.762, -81.711 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A small fast-moving tornado touched down near Howey-in-the-Hills. It moved northeast over Little Lake Harris and then over Lake Dora before striking Mt. Dora. It continued northeast exiting the county near Highway 44, three miles east of Forrest City. A 5-month old baby boy was killed in a mobile home 10 miles northeast of Mt. Dora at 0050 EST. The mobile home was completely destroyed and two adults in it were seriously injured. In all 13 homes were completely destroyed, 80 suffered major damage and 266 reported minor damage. (M00M)

Thunderstorm Wind, Marion

When
March 13, 12:30 AM EST
Where
Marion County to E Portion
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
29.210, -82.057 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds ripped roofs from houses and mobile homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Flz001 - 023

When
March 13, 12:35 AM EST
Where
Flz001 - 023 County, Countywide
Property damage
$5.0 million

Strong winds blew down trees and power lines throughout the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumter

When
March 13, 12:35 AM EST
Where
Sumter County, Bushnell
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
28.705, -82.081 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds uprooted a tree which crashed into a house.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pasco

When
March 13, 12:35 AM EST
Where
Pasco County, Zephyrhills
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
28.307, -82.439 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds flattened an outbuilding.

Thunderstorm Wind, Manatee

When
March 13, 12:35 AM EST
Where
Manatee County
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
27.478, -82.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees and power lines were blown down. Porches and carports were ripped from houses.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When
March 13, 12:36 AM EST
Where
Lee County, N Fort Myers
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
26.625, -81.849 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One house and two mobile homes were damaged by strong thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pinellas

When
March 13, 12:38 AM EST
Where
Pinellas County, St. Petersburg
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
27.903, -82.739 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds uprooted several trees which fell into cars.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When
March 13, 12:45 AM EST
Where
Polk County, Alturas
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
27.949, -81.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds blew roofs off several houses and destroyed carports.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sarasota

When
March 13, 12:47 AM EST
Where
Sarasota County, Fruitville
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
27.183, -82.365 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds blew a tree into a house.

Tornado, Duval

When
March 13, 1:00 AM EST
Where
Duval County, Jacksonville
Rating
F1
Path length
0.8 mi
Path width
50 yd
Property damage
$5.0 million
Coordinates
30.335, -81.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A small tornado ripped through Jacksonville destroying four homes and damaging 16 others.

Hail, Polk

When
March 13, 1:00 AM EST to 1:15 AM EST
Where
Polk County, Bartow
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
27.949, -81.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Quarter-size hail fell between Bartow and Wahneta and near Lake Alfred.

Tornado, Polk

When
March 13, 1:00 AM EST to 1:10 AM EST
Where
Polk County, Bartow to to Lakeland
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
10 yd
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
27.949, -81.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A funnel cloud was sighted south of Bartow moving north. It snapped some trees and blew in a few doors south of Lakeland before dissipating.

Tornado, Duval

When
March 13, 1:10 AM EST
Where
Duval County, Jacksonville
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
10 yd
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
30.335, -81.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A small tornado snapped off trees near the Jacksonville airport. At the airport itself, several jetways and service vehicles were damaged and a 737 was moved 40 feet. Hardee County N of Fort Green,13,0110EST,,,0,0,3,0,Thunderstorm Winds Strong winds blew down power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Orange

When
March 13, 1:10 AM EST
Where
Orange County, Disney World
Measured
62 kt (71 mph)
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
28.514, -81.323 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A solid line of thunderstorms moved across the county producing wind gusts to 71 mph. Trees and power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When
March 13, 1:13 AM EST
Where
Polk County, Auburndale
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
27.949, -81.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds knocked a mobile home off its foundation.

Thunderstorm Wind, Flagler

When
March 13, 1:15 AM EST
Where
Flagler County
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
29.471, -81.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds ripped off roofs and patios, uprooted trees and blew down power lines in Bunnell, Palm Coast, and Flagler Beach.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When
March 13, 1:15 AM EST
Where
Polk County, Highlands City
Property damage
$5.0 million
Coordinates
27.949, -81.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines and damaged three buildings. Two houses and eight mobile homes suffered severe damage in Winterhaven.

Thunderstorm Wind, Volusia

When
March 13, 1:20 AM EST
Where
Volusia County, Deland
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
29.063, -81.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines and blew in windows.

Thunderstorm Wind, Seminole

When
March 13, 1:20 AM EST
Where
Seminole County, Sanford
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
28.717, -81.236 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Volusia

When
March 13, 1:22 AM EST
Where
Volusia County to Daytona Beach
Measured
53 kt (61 mph)
Coordinates
29.063, -81.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A wind gust to 63 mph was recorded at the airport.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When
March 13, 1:25 AM EST
Where
Polk County, Lakeland
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
27.949, -81.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong wind gusts tore shingles off a house roof in Lakeland, and downed trees and power lines throughout the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Volusia

When
March 13, 1:26 AM EST
Where
Volusia County, Ormond Beach
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
29.063, -81.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds blew down trees, bent or broke telephone poles, and damaged mobile homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Duval

When
March 13, 1:30 AM EST
Where
Duval County, Jacksonville
Measured
64 kt (74 mph)
Coordinates
30.335, -81.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds gusted to 75 mph at the St. Johns River Power Park.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Johns

When
March 13, 1:30 AM EST
Where
St. Johns County, Hastings
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
29.912, -81.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Volusia

When
March 13, 1:30 AM EST
Where
Volusia County, Port Orange
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
29.063, -81.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When
March 13, 1:40 AM EST
Where
Polk County, Winterhaven
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
27.949, -81.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds destroyed a carport.

Thunderstorm Wind, Volusia

When
March 13, 1:50 AM EST to 2:00 AM EST
Where
Volusia County, Holly Hill
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
29.063, -81.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds blew several trees onto a house in Holly Hill. A gust to 64 mph was recorded at Daytona Beach at 0150 EST.

Thunderstorm Wind, Orange

When
March 13, 1:55 AM EST
Where
Orange County, Christmas
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
28.514, -81.323 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees along Highway 528.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When
March 13, 2:00 AM EST
Where
Polk County, N of Fort Meade
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
27.949, -81.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds overturned two large trucks and destroyed three acres of greenhouses.

Thunderstorm Wind, Volusia

When
March 13, 2:10 AM EST
Where
Volusia County, Deland
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
29.063, -81.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds destroyed shutters and damaged roofs.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sarasota

When
March 13, 2:10 AM EST
Where
Sarasota County to Englewood
Measured
71 kt (82 mph)
Coordinates
27.183, -82.365 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A storm spotter reported a wind gust to 82 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When
March 13, 2:10 AM EST
Where
Monroe County, Dry Tortugas
Coordinates
25.557, -80.917 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A thunderstorm gust to 73 mph was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brevard

When
March 13, 2:13 AM EST
Where
Brevard County, Titusville
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
28.300, -80.701 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Charlotte

When
March 13, 2:15 AM EST
Where
Charlotte County, Englewood Beach
Measured
53 kt (61 mph)
Coordinates
26.900, -81.950 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A thunderstorm gust to 61 mph was reported by a storm spotter.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When
March 13, 2:20 AM EST
Where
Lee County, Boca Grande
Measured
64 kt (74 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
26.625, -81.849 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wind gusts to 75 mph blew down signs and tore shingles off roofs.

Thunderstorm Wind, De Soto

When
March 13, 2:30 AM EST
Where
De Soto County, S Portion
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
27.186, -81.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds destroyed a carport and a shed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When
March 13, 2:45 AM EST to 2:49 AM EST
Where
Lee County, Bonita Springs to To Sanibel
Property damage
$5.0 million
Coordinates
26.625, -81.849 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds blew down trees and power lines over an extensive area and ripped the roof of a 7-story building three-quarters of the way off.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When
March 13, 3:02 AM EST to 3:10 AM EST
Where
Lee County, Fort Myers
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage
$5.0 million
Coordinates
26.625, -81.849 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Page Field Airport measured a wind gust to 59 mph at 0302 EST. Traffic signals and signs were blown down in San Carlos, with damage to homes and business buildings in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers. Southwest Florida Regional Airport recorded a gust to 69 mph at 0303 EST.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When
March 13, 3:11 AM EST
Where
Lee County, Bonita Springs
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
26.625, -81.849 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds blew down trees, damaged 11 mobile homes severely, 11 had less serious damage, and destroyed seven carports.

Thunderstorm Wind, Collier

When
March 13, 3:15 AM EST
Where
Collier County, N Naples
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
26.099, -81.381 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds broke out windows and uprooted trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Glades and Hendry

When
March 13, 3:30 AM EST
Where
Glades and Hendry County
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
26.957, -81.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong downburst winds damaged three trailers and blew two others off their foundations.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When
March 13, 3:35 AM EST
Where
Lee County to Lehigh Acres
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
26.625, -81.849 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When
March 13, 3:58 AM EST
Where
Monroe County, Cudjoe Key
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
25.557, -80.917 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A wind gust to 60 mph was recorded at the Key West Naval Air Station.

Thunderstorm Wind, Martin

When
March 13, 4:15 AM EST
Where
Martin County, Jensen Beach
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
27.082, -80.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A mobile home was overturned by strong winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Indian River

When
March 13, 4:20 AM EST
Where
Indian River County, Vero Beach
Measured
72 kt (83 mph)
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
27.696, -80.574 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Downburst winds from a severe thunderstorm produced widespread damage in Vero Beach and Gifford. Eight homes in Vero Beach had major damage mainly from falling trees. Three commercial buildings were damaged, with trees and power lines down. Wings gusted to 83 mph at Vero Beach at 0427 EST.

Thunderstorm Wind, Martin

When
March 13, 4:30 AM EST
Where
Martin County, Jensen Beach
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
27.082, -80.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds damaged roofs.

Thunderstorm Wind, Glades

When
March 13, 4:30 AM EST
Where
Glades County, Moorehaven
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
26.957, -81.189 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds destroyed several mobile homes and blew down trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Miami-Dade

When
March 13, 4:45 AM EST
Where
Miami-Dade County, Virginia Key
Measured
72 kt (83 mph)
Coordinates
25.609, -80.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A thunderstorm gust to 83 mph was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Miami-Dade

When
March 13, 4:52 AM EST
Where
Miami-Dade County, Narrowrowanja
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
25.609, -80.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong downburst winds overturned a mobile home, killing one person and injuring another. (F36M)

Thunderstorm Wind, Miami-Dade

When
March 13, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Miami-Dade County, Homestead
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
25.609, -80.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds peeled off a mobile home roof.

Thunderstorm Wind, Broward

When
March 13, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Broward County, Ne Fort Lauderdale
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
26.152, -80.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Palm Beach

When
March 13, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Palm Beach County to W. Palm Beach
Measured
64 kt (74 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
26.648, -80.436 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong downburst winds blew down trees, power lines, and street lights. Palm Beach International reported a wind gust to 74 mph.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Thunderstorm Wind, Manatee1993-03-13Direct
Tornado, Alachua1993-03-13Direct
Tornado, Lake1993-03-13Direct
Thunderstorm Wind, Miami-Dade1993-03-13Direct

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Florida in 1993Every state in 1993This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Florida, 1993Warnings in Florida, March 1993

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10319343, 10320046, 10358522, 10319714, 10319775, 10320047, 10319907, 10319747, 10319908, 10320068, 10320190, 10318064, 10319799, 10319909, 10320170, 10320155, 10320171, 10317815, 10319231, 10319715, 10320069, 10320196, 10319748, 10319850, 10319800, 10317837, 10319851, 10319852, 10317838, 10319645, 10319853, 10317788, 10319884, 10319344, 10319877, 10319345, 10319885, 10319346, 10317839, 10319117, and more.