1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.
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.
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 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 Melbourne, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 23, 2:21 PM EST, 4 hours 9 minutes earlier.
EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 321 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2003 .DISCUSSION...OVERNIGHT...SCATTERED LINE OF DEEP CONVECTION STRETCHING FROM NEAR KSGJ TO KLAL AT 1800Z WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH EAST AND WILL INTERACT WITH KMLB 88D DETECTED BOUNDARY FROM EASTERN ORANGE COUNTY TO CENTRAL OSCEOLA COUNTY AND EAST COAST SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY JUST INLAND FROM THE COAST FROM THE CAPE SOUTH. COVERAGE AND INTENSITY OF SCATTERED STORMS SHOULD INCREASE AS THEY APPROACH BOUNDARIES OVER EASTERN SIDE OF PENINSULA LATER THIS AFTERNOON. EXPECT ACTIVITY WILL BE ISOLATED AT MOST OVER THE INTERIOR THIS EVENING...AND SCATTERED BUT DIMINISHING OVER THE COASTAL COUNTIES DURING THE EARLY EVENING. AFTER END OF CONVECTION...REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT WILL FEATURE DIMINISHING CLOUDINESS AND SEA BREEZE MODIFIED COASTAL WINDS WILL REVERT TO LIGHT OFFSHORE GRADIENT FLOW. THURS...PATTERN STARTS TO TRANSITION AS RIDGE AXIS BEGINS A NORTHWARD DRIFT AS THE SE U.S. TROF RECEDES NORTH. MODELS STILL INCREASING MOISTURE A LITTLE FROM SE DUE TO TROPICAL WAVE BUT NOT AS PRONOUNCED AS IN PREVIOUS RUNS. EARLY INLAND MOVEMENT OF THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY WILL BRING HIGHEST CHANCES TO THE SOUTHERN COASTAL SECTIONS THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON...THEN THE REST OF THE AREA THROUGH THE MID AND LATE AFTN. WITH THE RIDGE DRIFTING NORTHWARD SHOULD HAVE MORE INLAND PENETRATION OF THE SEA BREEZE...ESPECIALLY SOUTH. ENOUGH SWLY COMPONENT MAY LINGER NORTH OF THE CAPE FOR STORMS TO APPROACH THE EAST COAST THERE IN THE EVENING. FRI THRU THE WEEKEND...RIDGE CONTINUES A NORTHWARD DRIFT FRIDAY AND INTO THE WEEKEND. AS THIS OCCURS...LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL GRADUALLY BACK TO SOUTHEASTERLY THEN EASTERLY. PATTERN WILL FAVOR THE HIGHEST POPS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PENINSULA....WITH SHOWERS AND STORMS NEAR THE COAST COAST LATE NIGHT THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON...THEN FOCUS SHIFTING INLAND MID TO LATE AFTERNOON. EXTENDED...NEXT MON THROUGH WED...RIDGE AXIS WILL BE SHUNTED BACK SOUTH AS STRONG SHORTWAVE DROPS THROUGH GREAT LAKES AND DEEPENS UPPER TROFFING INTO THE SE U.S. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR EC FL IS A RETURN TO THE EAST SIDE OF PENINSULA BEING THE FAVORED AREA FOR AFTERNOON AND EVENING CONVECTION WITH LOW LEVEL SOUTHWEST FLOW WEAK ENOUGH TO ALLOW EAST COAST SEA BREEZE DEVELOPMENT...WITH ENHANCED CONVERGENCE NEAR THE EAST COAST. .MARINE...MAIN CONCERN TO BOATERS OVERNIGHT WILL BE STORMS MOVING OFFSHORE THE COAST AGAIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WINDS OVER EC FL COASTAL WATERS WILL BACK TO SE-E AS RIDGE LIFTS NORTHWARD INTO THE WEEKEND. NO HIGHLIGHTS. .PRELIMINARY CCF... DAB BB 074/090 073/089 074 353 MCO BB 074/091 074/091 074 253 MLB BB 075/089 075/088 075 352 VRB BB 075/089 075/089 075 352 .MLB...NONE. FCST DESK...SPRATT/GLITTO SVR DESK...HAGEMEYER/MOSELY
AMZ550-555-570-575-FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141-144-147- 232100- EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 1010 AM EDT WED JUL 23 2003 .DAY ONE...TODAY... SUFFICIENT MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY REMAIN IN PLACE FOR THE FORMATION OF SCATTERED LIGHTNING STORMS OVER EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. INITIAL STORM FORMATION WILL OCCUR NEAR THE COAST FROM CAPE CANAVERAL SOUTH AS THE SEA BREEZES TAKES SHAPE BY EARLY AFTERNOON. OTHER STORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE WESTERN PENINSULA AND WILL MOVE NORTHEAST INTO THE INTERIOR PORTION OF THE STATE BY EARLY AFTERNOON. STORM COVERAGE AND INTENSITY WILL INCREASE LATE IN THE DAY AS THE WEST COAST SEA BREEZE PUSHES EASTWARD TOWARD THE ATLANTIC COASTAL COUNTIES AND INTERACTS WITH STORMS NEAR THE COAST. RELATIVELY COOL AND DRY CONDITIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATMOSPHERE WILL PROVIDE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS TO REACH SEVERE LEVELS WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...SMALL HAIL...FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING...AND BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAINS. MOVE INDOORS QUICKLY AT THE FIRST SIGN OF A STORM. STAY INSIDE UNTIL 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST THUNDER IS HEARD TO AVOID THE LIGHTNING THREAT. SCATTERED STORMS WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE INTRACOASTAL WATERS AND BARRIER ISLANDS...AND INTO THE NEARSHORE ATLANTIC WATERS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME OF THE STORMS WILL BE STRONG OR SEVERE AND WILL LIKELY PRODUCE WIND GUSTS OVER 50 KNOTS...LOCALLY ROUGH SEAS...AND VISIBILITY NEAR ZERO IN HEAVY RAIN. WATERSPOUTS AND SMALL HAIL MAY ALSO ACCOMPANY THE MOST INTENSE STORMS. PLAN AHEAD AND WATCH FOR STORMS MOVING OFF THE MAINLAND AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS LATE TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... SCATTERED STORMS ARE EXPECTED EACH DAY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO SELF ACTIVATE IF ANY WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR THEIR COUNTY. RELAY ANY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ...HAIL...HIGH WINDS...WIND DAMAGE OR FLOODING...TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN MELBOURNE. FOR A GRAPHICAL VERSION OF THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...GO TO WWW.WEATHER.GOV AND CLICK ON EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. SPRATT
FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141-144-147-232015- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 329 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2003 ...STRONG STORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...SMALL HAIL AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING ACROSS EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... AT 330 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG STORMS ALONG THE WEST COAST SEAS BREEZE FROM JUST OFF SHORE DAYTONA BEACH TO NEAR SANFORD...ORLANDO AND KISSIMMEE. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WINDS AND SMALL HAIL AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING. OTHER STORMS WERE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP ALONG THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE FROM CAPE CANAVERAL SOUTH TO NEAR LAKE OKEECHOBEE IN MARTIN COUNTY. BETWEEN 330 AND 630 PM STORMS ALONG THE WEST COAST SEAS BREEZE WILL MOVE EAST AND COLLIDE WITH THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE WEST OF INTERSTATE 95. THE NORTHEAST STEERING WINDS OF 20 MPH WILL THEN PUSH THE THUNDERSTORMS BACK TOWARD THE COAST EARLY THIS EVENING. THE GREATEST THREAT OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE OVER SOUTHERN VOLUSIA...EASTERN ORANGE AND SEMINOLE...BREVARD...OSCEOLA AND INDIAN RIVER COUNTIES. RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE APPROACH OF THESE STORMS AND HEAD INDOORS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF THREATENING WEATHER. IF THE STORM STRENGTHENS FURTHER...A WARNING WILL BE ISSUED. BCH
FLZ047-232315- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 633 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2003 ...STRONG STORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIEKS OVER SOUTHERN BREVARD COUNTY... AT 622 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WIND GUSTS FROM MERRITT ISLAND TO 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PALM BAY...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE STRONG WINDS AND ASSOCIATED MINOR DAMAGE INCLUDE INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH...MELBOURNE BEACH...WEST MELBOURNE AND PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY ENCLOSED BUILDING. PICNIC SHELTERS AND DUGOUTS MAY KEEP YOU DRY BUT OFFER NO PROTECTION FROM THE DANGERS OF LIGHTNING. IF THE STORM STRENGTHENS FURTHER...A WARNING WILL BE ISSUED. 28
FLZ047-232315- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 633 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2003 ...STRONG STORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES OVER SOUTHERN BREVARD COUNTY... AT 622 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WIND GUSTS FROM MERRITT ISLAND TO 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PALM BAY...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE STRONG WINDS AND ASSOCIATED MINOR DAMAGE INCLUDE INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH...MELBOURNE BEACH...WEST MELBOURNE AND PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY ENCLOSED BUILDING. PICNIC SHELTERS AND DUGOUTS MAY KEEP YOU DRY BUT OFFER NO PROTECTION FROM THE DANGERS OF LIGHTNING. IF THE STORM STRENGTHENS FURTHER...A WARNING WILL BE ISSUED. 28
FLZ058-232345- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 705 PM EDT WED JUL 23 2003 ...STRONG STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING STRIKES OVER OKEECHOBEE COUNTY... AT 657 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG WIND GUSTS FROM 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF FORT DRUM TO BASINGER TO 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OKEECHOBEE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE STRONG WINDS INCLUDE OKEECHOBEE...FOUR SEASONS ESTATES AND TAYLOR CREEK. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY ENCLOSED BUILDING. PICNIC SHELTERS AND DUGOUTS MAY KEEP YOU DRY BUT OFFER NO PROTECTION FROM THE DANGERS OF LIGHTNING. IF THE STORM STRENGTHENS FURTHER...A WARNING WILL BE ISSUED. 28
The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 21 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:27 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A Palm Bay man was struck and injured by lightning while cutting his grass.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, July 2003
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: 5334614.