Florida, 2003

Damaging Wind in Florida, August 1, 2003

August 1, 2003 · NWS TBW · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$10,000
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 Aug 1, 12:56 PM EST, 3 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 1, 12:56 PM EST, 3 hours 51 minutes before
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
156 PM EDT FRI AUG 1 2003

NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE BIG PICTURE.  BERMUDA HIGH BEING
PANCAKED BY CUTOFF VORTEX DROPPING FROM THE UPPER MIDWEST INTO THE
NORTHEAST U.S./MID ATLC WILL BE REFLECTED AT THE SFC BY AN
OSCILLATING SFC RIDGE ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND S PENINSULA.  THAT
MEANS A CONTINUATION OF OVERNIGHT THROUGH EARLY AFTN MARINE
ACTIVITY...AND GENERALLY LATE MORNING THROUGH EARLY EVENING ACTIVITY
INLAND.

MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE BIG PICTURE...BUT DIFFER A BIT
EARLY ON.  ETA MOVES EASTERLY WAVE NOW IN THE BAHAMAS ALONG FLS
EAST COAST THROUGH SAT NIGHT...WITH BACKSIDE ENE FLOW DEVELOPING
ACROSS THE PENINSULA.  GFS KEEPS THE WAVE FARTHER E AND N WHICH
APPEARS TO BE A BETTER SOLUTION BASED ON WATER VAPOR IMAGES...
LEAVING MORE OF A SE TO S BACKGROUND FLOW.

SHORT TERM (TONIGHT - SUN):
SUBTLE CHANGES OCCURRED TODAY...WITH A TAD MORE ROBUST SE FLOW NEAR
THE SFC AT DAYBREAK (SINCE DISSIPATED) PRODUCING NUMEROUS MORNING
TSTMS OFFSHORE AND SLOWING DOWN SOMEWHAT CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT
INLAND.  ECSB ACTIVITY MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED AS WELL.  COVERAGE
INCREASING QUICKLY AS CONVECTIVE TEMP HAS BEEN REACHED.  EXPECT
EVENING ACTIVITY TO FOCUS OVER INTERIOR AND S COUNTIES...AND WILL
DECIDE LAST MINUTE WHETHER TO ADD A REMAINDER OF AFTN/EVE PERIOD.

THEREAFTER...EXPECT A QUIET OVERNIGHT AND EARLY MORNING EACH DAY AS
SE FLOW HOLDS DEVELOPMENT OFFSHORE.  GIVEN DEEP LAYERED MOISTURE
AND PERSISTENT (THOUGH WEAK) SHEAR AXIS NEARBY...WILL CONTINUE
LIKELY AFTN CATEGORY EACH DAY AND SCT/ISOLD DURING THE EVENING.  MAX
TEMPS SHOULD BE SIMILAR TO THIS AFTN (89-92).

EXTENDED (SUN NIGHT - FRI):
SURFACE RIDGE AXIS WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE PERIOD
AS UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CONTINUES OVER EASTERN U.S.  THUS WILL CONTINUE
TO SEE SCATTERED MAINLY LATE MORNING THROUGH EVENING SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY WITH NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES.

MARINE...AS EXPECTED...ACTIVITY DRYING UP THIS AFTN BUT WILL
REDEVELOP AFTER DARK AS INSTABILITY SHIFTS TO THE WATER.  COULD BE
NUMEROUS TSTMS N OF TARPON AGAIN SAT AND SUN MORNING...BUT WILL
SETTLE FOR SCT OVERNIGHT/MORNING AND ISOLD AFTN/EVE.  WINDS A TAD
MORE S/SE AND PERHAPS A SHADE HIGHER...STILL NOT SIGNIFICANT.

FIRE WX:  NO PROBLEMS EXPECTED.

PRELIM NUMBERS:
TPA 076/091 076/090 2635
FMY 075/091 075/091 3535
GIF 074/092 074/092 3636
SRQ 075/090 075/089 2525
BKV 071/092 071/090 2636

.TBW...NONE.

BSG/PRC
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 1, 5:00 AM EST, 11 hours 47 minutes before
FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-011600-

WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
600 AM EDT FRI AUG 1 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY:

A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY MOVE ONSHORE FROM THE GULF PRIMARILY NORTH OF
TAMPA BAY DURING THE MORNING HOURS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE
LIGHTNING AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN.

DURING THE AFTERNOON... AS THE GULF SEA BREEZE MOVES INLAND SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AND INCREASE IN COVERAGE. THE STRONGEST
STORMS WILL CONTAIN HAIL...HEAVY RAIN IN EXCESS OF TWO INCHES...AND
WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH OR HIGHER. EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING IS ALSO
EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY:

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED EACH DAY.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED THIS AFTERNOON. WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE
REMINDED TO RELAY ANY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NWS
OFFICE IN RUSKIN.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 1, 2:43 PM EST, 2 hours 4 minutes before
FLZ049-012030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
343 PM EDT FRI AUG 1 2003

THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 5 MPH...WILL AFFECT LAND O
LAKES...MOON LAKE ESTATES AND MASARYKTOWN...UNTIL 430 PM EDT. GUSTY
WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS
EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM
TALL OBJECTS. THIS STORM MAY PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL. TORRENTIAL
RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF
POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
Local storm report, Aug 1, 3:33 PM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN  FL
433 PM EDT FRI AUG 1 2003

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

0350 PM    SUN CITY CENTER           FL   1.00 INCH HAIL
08/01/03   HILLSBOROUGH                   REPORTED BY WFTS TV
                                          CHANNEL 28.

RWH
Special weather statement, Aug 1, 3:44 PM EST, 1 hour 3 minutes before
FLZ065-012130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
444 PM EDT FRI AUG 1 2003

THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING WEST AT 10 MPH...WILL AFFECT RURAL SOUTHERN
LEE COUNTY...NEAR BONITA SPRINGS TO ESTERO...UNTIL 530 PM EDT. GUSTY
WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS
EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM
TALL OBJECTS. THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL. TORRENTIAL
RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF
POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
Special weather statement, Aug 1, 4:31 PM EST, 16 minutes before
FLZ061-062-065-012215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
531 PM EDT FRI AUG 1 2003

THUNDERSTORMS...NEARLY STATIONARY...WILL AFFECT AREAS NEAR
ARCADIA...FORT OGDEN...TUCKERS CORNER...BABCOCK RANCH...NORTH FORT
MYERS...FORT MYERS...CAPE CORAL...AND FORT MYERS BEACH UNTIL 615 PM
EDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY
FROM TALL OBJECTS. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON
ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
Special weather statement, Aug 1, 4:46 PM EST, 1 minute before
FLZ042-043-048-012230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
546 PM EDT FRI AUG 1 2003

A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH...WILL
AFFECT AREAS NORTH OF BROOKSVILLE TO LAKE PANASOFFKEE TO
BUSHNELL...UNTIL 630 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH WILL OCCUR.
EXCESSIVE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED

IF OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. IF
INDOORS...REFRAIN FROM USING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES. THIS STORM WILL
PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER
ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.

NOAH
Special weather statement, Aug 1, 4:47 PM EST, 0 minutes before
FLZ061-062-065-012230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
547 PM EDT FRI AUG 1 2003

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS NEAR ARCADIA...FORT
OGDEN...TUCKERS CORNER...BABCOCK RANCH...NORTH FORT MYERS...FORT
MYERS...CAPE CORAL...AND FORT MYERS BEACH...UNTIL 630 PM EDT.
EXCESSIVE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED IF OUTSIDE...CROUCH
DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. IF INDOORS...REFRAIN
FROM USING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE
PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS. AT 540 PM EDT CHARLOTTE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD ALONG COUNTY ROADS 74 AND 31. ADDITIONAL
FUNNEL CLOUDS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. IF
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR LOCATION...MOVE INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY.

MCMICHAEL

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hardee

When
August 1, 4:47 PM EST
Where
Hardee County, 4 mi E of Wauchula
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
27.550, -81.750

A thunderstorm downburst wind produced minor to moderate damage to eight manufactured homes.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Florida in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, August 2003

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: 5377482.