Flooding in Florida, February 16, 1998

Name: Flooding in Florida, February 16, 1998
Start: 1998-02-16T10:00
End: 1998-02-16T18:00
Location: Florida

February 16, 1998 · NWS TBW · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Over 70 percent of the strawberry crop in Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk Counties was destroyed by the heavy rainfall. Nearly 400 homes were inaccessible in the Fairway Springs subdivision along State Road 54 in New Port Richey due to the heavy rainfall.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $110,000
Crop damage: $700,000
Events: 6

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS TBW wrote it up.

Heavy rainfall of three to five inches in less than eight hours caused localized flooding of low-lying roads and areas of poor drainage from Lutz in Hillsborough County north to Crystal River in Citrus County.Over 70 percent of the strawberry crop in Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk Counties was destroyed by the heavy rainfall. Nearly 400 homes were inaccessible in the Fairway Springs subdivision along State Road 54 in New Port Richey due to the heavy rainfall. Water two to four deep covered roadways from the heavy rainfall over portions of Pasco County.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Citrus

When: February 16, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Citrus County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 28.848, -82.520 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hernando

When: February 16, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Hernando County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 28.556, -82.468 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hillsborough

When: February 16, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Hillsborough County, Countywide
Property damage: $30,000
Crop damage: $400,000
Coordinates: 27.906, -82.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Pasco

When: February 16, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Pasco County, Countywide
Property damage: $40,000
Crop damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 28.307, -82.439 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Pinellas

When: February 16, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Pinellas County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 27.903, -82.739 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Polk

When: February 16, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Polk County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: $200,000
Coordinates: 27.949, -81.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, February 1998

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: 5639781, 5639782, 5639783, 5639784, 5639785, 5639786.