Florida, 2001

Lightning Strike in Florida, March 29, 2001

March 29, 2001 · NWS TBW · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
2
Injuries
0
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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 forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tampa Bay, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 29, 9:00 PM EST, 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 29, 9:00 PM EST, 30 minutes before
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
900 PM EST THU MAR 29 2001

SEVERE WEATHER WATCH WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 9 PM. ZONES WILL
BU UPDATED AT THAT TIME. WILL STILL HOLD ON TO WORDING FOR POSSIBLE
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVERNIGHT AS YET ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT VORT MAX
MOVES ACROSS THE AREA BETWEEN 06Z AND 09Z...BUT ATMOSPHERE HAS
STABILIZED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM EARLIER CONVECTION...SO THREAT OF
SEVERE IS SMALL...ALTHOUGH NOT COMPLETELY GONE. BEST THREAT WOULD
SEEM TO BE OVER CHARLOTTE AND LEE COUNTIES

SEAS AT BUOY 42036 ARGUE FOR A POSSIBLE INCREASE TO SCA...BUT WINDS
DO NOT SUPPORT SUCH A MOVE. COASTAL LOCATIONS ALSO REPORTING LIGHT
WINDS...SO WILL KEEP CURRENT SCEC STANDING.

.TBW...SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION TONIGHT BONITA BEACH TO SUWANNEE
       RIVER OUT 60NM INCLUDING TAMPA BAY.

ALSHEIMER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 29, 4:56 PM EST, 4 hours 34 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
456 PM EST THU MAR 29 2001

...EVENT SUMMARY FOR 03-29-2001...

TIME(LST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0925 AM    FANNING SPRINGS           FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   LEVY                           NW 170TH ST.  WALL OF
                                          MOBILE HOME DESTROYED.
                                          REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

0925 AM    6 W CHIEFLAND             FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   LEVY                           13 MOBILE HOMES WITH
                                          MAJOR ROOF DAMAGE IN
                                          THE HIDEAWAY PARK AREA
                                          AND 30 MOBILE HOMES
                                          WITH MINOR DAMAGE.
                                          MANY LARGE LIMBS DOWN
                                          BLOCKING ROADS.
                                          REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

0930 AM    FANNING SPRINGS           FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   LEVY                           TREES ON HOMES ON NW
                                          70TH ST.  REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1000 AM    5 NE CRYSTAL RIVER        FL   TORNADO
03/29/01   CITRUS                         NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.
                                          SHINGLES OFF HOMES.
                                          POOL CAGES DAMAGED.
                                          ONE OUT BUILDING
                                          DESTROYED.  6 TO 7 MILE
                                          DAMAGE PATH ABOUT 100
                                          YDS WIDE.

1005 AM    SPRING HILL               FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   HERNANDO                       TREES DOWN ON LARADO
                                          RD. REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1006 AM    HERNANDO BEACH            FL   57 MPH TSTM GUST
03/29/01   HERNANDO                       REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

1010 AM    2 S HERNANDO              FL   TORNADO
03/29/01   CITRUS                         DAMAGE PATH FROM 2S OF
                                          HERNANDO NEAR E BRYANT
                                          ST AND N CROFT AVE TO
                                          1E OF HERNANDO AT E
                                          PARSONS PT RD.  3 MILE
                                          LONG SPORADIC PATH WITH
                                          MINOR ROOF DAMAGE AND
                                          TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1017 AM    NEW PORT RICHEY           FL   1.75 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   PASCO                          LITTLE ROAD. REPORTED
                                          BY STORM SPOTTER.

1020 AM    NEW PORT RICHEY           FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   PASCO                          POWERLINES DOWN ON
                                          SYCAMORE RD.  REPORTED
                                          BY STORM SPOTTER.

1030 AM    BRONSON                   FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   LEVY                           ONE TREE BLOWN DOWN ON
                                          TOP OF WELL AT THE TOWN
                                          HALL. REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1030 AM    LAND O LAKES              FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   PASCO                          NUMEROUS DOWNED TREES.
                                          HAIL OF UNKNOWN SIZE.
                                          REPORTED BY OFF-DUTY
                                          NWS EMPLOYEE.

1045 AM    CROOM                     FL   1 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   SUMTER                         REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

1053 AM    ZEPHYRHILLS               FL   1 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   PASCO                          REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

1059 AM    2 W ZEPHYRHILLS           FL   1 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   PASCO                          REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

1115 AM    LAKELAND                  FL   1 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   POLK                           I-4 AND US 98. REPORTED
                                          BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1120 AM    DADE CITY                 FL   TORNADO
03/29/01   PASCO                          DAMAGE PATH FROM 5SE OF
                                          DADE CITY TO 3S DADE
                                          CITY.  MAJOR DAMAGE TO
                                          SEVERAL  HOMES ON
                                          ROBERTS ROAD BETWEEN
                                          FT. KING RD AND SMITH
                                          RD. REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1120 AM    CROOM                     FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   SUMTER                         UTILITY SHED BLOWN
                                          DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1129 AM    4 W LAKELAND              FL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   POLK                           COUNTY LINE AND I-4.
                                          REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

1140 AM    BASEBALL CITY             FL   1.75 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   POLK                           REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

1144 AM    1 N (BOW)BARTOW MUNI ARPT FL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   POLK                           REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

1215 PM    LEDO BEACH                FL   WATERSPOUT
03/29/01   SARASOTA                       3 WATERSPOUTS WERE
                                          SPOTTED 1/2 MILE WEST
                                          OF LEDO KEY MOVING
                                          NORTHEAST TOWARD LONG
                                          BOAT KEY. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
Local storm report, Mar 29, 6:40 PM EST, 2 hours 50 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
640 PM EST THU MAR 29 2001

...EVENT SUMMARY FOR 03-29-2001...
...CORRECTED EVENT TIMES IN 456 PM LSR...

TIME(LST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0925 AM    FANNING SPRINGS           FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   LEVY                           NW 170TH ST.  WALL OF
                                          MOBILE HOME DESTROYED.
                                          REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

0925 AM    6 W CHIEFLAND             FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   LEVY                           13 MOBILE HOMES WITH
                                          MAJOR ROOF DAMAGE IN
                                          THE HIDEAWAY PARK AREA
                                          AND 30 MOBILE HOMES
                                          WITH MINOR DAMAGE.
                                          MANY LARGE LIMBS DOWN
                                          BLOCKING ROADS.
                                          REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

0930 AM    FANNING SPRINGS           FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   LEVY                           TREES ON HOMES ON NW
                                          70TH ST.  REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

0930 AM    BRONSON                   FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   LEVY                           ONE TREE BLOWN DOWN ON
                                          TOP OF WELL AT THE TOWN
                                          HALL. REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1000 AM    5 NE CRYSTAL RIVER        FL   TORNADO
03/29/01   CITRUS                         NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.
                                          SHINGLES OFF HOMES.
                                          POOL CAGES DAMAGED.
                                          ONE OUT BUILDING
                                          DESTROYED.  6 TO 7 MILE
                                          DAMAGE PATH ABOUT 100
                                          YDS WIDE.

1005 AM    SPRING HILL               FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   HERNANDO                       TREES DOWN ON LARADO
                                          RD. REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1006 AM    HERNANDO BEACH            FL   57 MPH TSTM GUST
03/29/01   HERNANDO                       REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

1010 AM    2 S HERNANDO              FL   TORNADO
03/29/01   CITRUS                         DAMAGE PATH FROM 2S OF
                                          HERNANDO NEAR E BRYANT
                                          ST AND N CROFT AVE TO
                                          1E OF HERNANDO AT E
                                          PARSONS PT RD.  3 MILE
                                          LONG SPORADIC PATH WITH
                                          MINOR ROOF DAMAGE AND
                                          TREES DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1017 AM    NEW PORT RICHEY           FL   1.75 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   PASCO                          LITTLE ROAD. REPORTED
                                          BY STORM SPOTTER.

1020 AM    NEW PORT RICHEY           FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   PASCO                          POWERLINES DOWN ON
                                          SYCAMORE RD.  REPORTED
                                          BY STORM SPOTTER.

1030 AM    LAND O LAKES              FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   PASCO                          NUMEROUS DOWNED TREES.
                                          HAIL OF UNKNOWN SIZE.
                                          REPORTED BY OFF-DUTY
                                          NWS EMPLOYEE.

1045 AM    CROOM                     FL   1 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   SUMTER                         REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

1045 AM    CROOM                     FL   WIND DAMAGE
03/29/01   SUMTER                         UTILITY SHED BLOWN
                                          DOWN. REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1045 AM    DADE CITY                 FL   TORNADO
03/29/01   PASCO                          DAMAGE PATH FROM 5SW OF
                                          DADE CITY TO 3S DADE
                                          CITY.  MAJOR DAMAGE TO
                                          SEVERAL HOMES ON
                                          ROBERTS ROAD BETWEEN
                                          FT. KING RD AND SMITH
                                          RD. REPORTED BY
                                          EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1053 AM    ZEPHYRHILLS               FL   1 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   PASCO                          REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

1059 AM    2 W ZEPHYRHILLS           FL   1 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   PASCO                          REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

1115 AM    LAKELAND                  FL   1 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   POLK                           I-4 AND US 98. REPORTED
                                          BY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

1129 AM    4 W LAKELAND              FL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   POLK                           COUNTY LINE AND I-4.
                                          REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

1140 AM    BASEBALL CITY             FL   1.75 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   POLK                           REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
                                          MANAGEMENT.

1144 AM    1 N (BOW)BARTOW MUNI ARPT FL   .75 INCH HAIL
03/29/01   POLK                           REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

1215 PM    LEDO BEACH                FL   WATERSPOUT
03/29/01   SARASOTA                       3 WATERSPOUTS WERE
                                          SPOTTED 1/2 MILE WEST
                                          OF LIDO KEY MOVING
                                          NORTHEAST TOWARD LONG
                                          BOAT KEY. REPORTED BY
                                          LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.
Special weather statement, Mar 29, 9:00 PM EST, 30 minutes before
FLZ055>057-060>062-065-300215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
900 PM EST THU MAR 29 2001

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MANATEE...HARDEE...HIGHLANDS...
SARASOTA...DESOTO...CHARLOTTE...AND LEE COUNTIES HAS BEEN ALLOWED
TO EXPIRE...

THUNDERSTORMS FROM EARLIER THIS EVENING HAVE STABILIZED THE
ATMOSPHERE ACROSS THE AREA. THEREFORE...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCH HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 9 PM.

ALTHOUGH THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS EXPIRED ACROSS
CHARLOTTE...AND LEE COUNTIES...THE THREAT FOR LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS...AND SMALL HAIL WILL CONTINUE AS AN AREA OF
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF MOVES ONSHORE THROUGH
MIDNIGHT.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS IN THE
EVENT ANOTHER SEVERE WEATHER WATCH IS ISSUED...OR ANY STATEMENTS AND
WARNINGS BECOME NECESSARY.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Charlotte

When
March 29, 9:30 PM EST
Where
Charlotte County, Charlotte Harbor
Deaths
2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
26.900, -81.950 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A fire inspector for the State Fire Marshal's office determined that lightning lightning struck and ignited a fire at a group home on the 3400 block of Drance Street in Charlotte Harbor. The lightning ignited fire killed two developmentally disabled men residing at the group home.

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
Lightning, Charlotte2001-03-2942MalePermanent HomeDirect
Lightning, Charlotte2001-03-2937MalePermanent HomeDirect

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Florida in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, March 2001

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: 5238591.