1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 Tampa Bay, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 12, 3:47 PM EST, 2 hours 58 minutes earlier.
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 447 PM EDT THU AUG 12 2004 HAVE MADE SUBTLE CHANGES TO THE WATCH/WARNING/ADVISORY SECTION BELOW TO INCORPORATE LATEST NHC INFORMATION. ZONE AND MARINE FORECASTS WILL BE OUT SHORTLY. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION BELOW. -------------------------------------------------------------------- .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT - SAT)...ALL EYES CONTINUE TO BE FOCUSED ON HURRICANE CHARLEY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH THE LATEST TPC FORECAST STILL TAKING THE STORM NORTH NORTHEASTWARD TOWARD THE TAMPA BAY AREA DURING FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. THIS TRACK IS NOT ETCHED IN STONE...AND FUTURE ADJUSTMENT MAY BE MADE LATER TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY...SO ALL RESIDENTS AND MARINERS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST PROGRESS OF HURRICANE CHARLEY FROM THE NHC THROUGH FRIDAY. FOR TONIGHT...UNUSUALLY DEEP EASTERN U.S. TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO DRAW TROPICAL STORM BONNIE RAPIDLY NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND SERN STATES. TRAILING MOISTURE BANDS FROM BONNIE WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD EAST-NORTHEASTWARD WHICH WILL AFFECT MUCH OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ZONES THROUGH THE EVENING. A MOIST/UNSTABLE AND SUFFICIENTLY SHEARED ENVIRONMENT WILL SUPPORT POSSIBLE SUPERCELLS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS AND AFTER COORD WITH SPC A TORNADO WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT TONIGHT FROM MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS COUNTY NORTH. ZONES AND COASTAL FORECASTS WILL BE UPDATED SHORTLY. ON FRIDAY STORMY WEATHER IS IN STORE AS CHARLEY MOVES NORTH-NORTHEAST UP ALONG THE FL WEST COAST. SEE THE LATEST ADVISORIES ON CHARLEY FROM THE NHC. WITH CHARLEY HEADING OUR WAY...HAVE DEPICTED HEAVY RAINS AND INCREASING WINDS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. WITH THE GROUND QUITE SATURATED AND HEAVY RAINFALL ON THE WAY OVER THE NEXT 24-48 HOURS...AND WILL ISSUE A FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF THE FA LATER THIS AFTERNOON. FOR MORE SPECIFIC WEATHER INFO...SO OUR HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENTS. STORMY WEATHER WITH RAIN...SQUALLS AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE REGION FRIDAY NIGHT. ON SATURDAY THE CURRENT OFFICIAL TPC FORECAST HAS CHARLEY TO THE NE OF THE FORECAST...HOWEVER THE DEEP EASTERN U.S. TROUGH COMBINED WITH A SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WIND FLOW AND PLUME OF DEEP MOISTURE LINGERING OVER THE FA WILL KEEP CHANCES FOR RAIN ON THE HIGH SIDE...AND WILL KEEP LIKELY POPS IN PLACE FOR THE MORNING THEN GRADUALLY TAPERING OFF TO SCATTERED ACTIVITY IN THE AFTERNOON. CLOUDS AND PRECIP WILL KEEP MAX TEMPS BELOW NORMAL THE NEXT FEW DAYS. .LONG TERM (SAT NGT - THUR)...NO REAL CHANGES MADE DURING THIS TIME FRAME...WITH A RETURN TO MORE TRANQUIL WEATHER CONDITIONS. && .MARINE...LATEST TPC FORECAST BRINGS HURRICANE CHARLEY INTO THE COASTAL WATERS ON FRIDAY...WITH INCREASING WINDS/SEAS AND SURGE ALONG COASTAL ZONES. MARINERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF HURRICANE CHARLEY. SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT. && .FIRE WEATHER...NO REAL CONCERNS BUT INCREASING WINDS WILL LEAD TO VERY HIGH DISPERSIONS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 076 085 078 084/ 50 100 70 60 FMY 077 085 075 085/ 70 100 70 60 GIF 076 085 075 085/ 50 100 70 60 SRQ 077 085 076 085/ 50 100 70 60 BKV 075 085 075 084/ 60 100 70 70 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM BONITA BEACH TO BAYPORT OUT 60NM INCLUDING THE COUNTIES OF HERNANDO...PASCO...PINELLAS... HILLSBOROUGH...MANATEE...SARASOTA...CHARLOTTE...DESOTO...AND LEE. HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM BAYPORT NORTH TO THE SUWANNEE RIVER OUT 60NM INCLUDING LEVY...AND CITRUS COUNTIES. INLAND HURRICANE WIND WATCH FOR POLK...HARDEE...SUMTER...AND HIGHLANDS COUNTIES. TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 9 PM FOR LEVY...CITRUS...HERNANDO...SUMTER... PASCO...PINELLAS...HILLSBOROUGH...POLK...MANATEE...HARDEE...AND HIGHLANDS COUNTIES. && SHORT TERM...MCMICHAEL LONG TERM...DAVIS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 550 AM EDT THU AUG 12 2004 FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-121530- CHARLOTTE-CITRUS-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE- LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-SARASOTA-SUMTER- 550 AM EDT THU AUG 12 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. ...TROPICAL CYCLONE CHARLEY HEADED FOR THE SUNCOAST FRIDAY... ...HURRICANE WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT FROM BONITA BEACH TO TARPON SPRINGS INCLUDING TAMPA BAY... .DAY ONE...TODAY: SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NATURE COAST. THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM STRONGER CELLS WILL BE FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAINS...AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY: ...SYNOPSIS... TROPICAL CYCLONE CHARLEY WILL CONTINUE MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA TODAY AND EMERGE OFF THE WESTERN COAST OF CUBA TONIGHT. LATE TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO TURN TO THE NORTH AND SHOULD MAKE LANDFALL ON THE SUNCOAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THE PRIMARY HAZARDS FROM THIS STORM WILL BE WIND DAMAGE...AS WELL AS STORM SURGE OVER AND SOUTH OF WHERE CHARLEY MAKES LANDFALL. HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING REMAIN A SECONDARY HAZARD...BUT THE SPEED OF THE STORM SHOULD LIMIT THE EXTENT AND AMOUNT OF HEAVY RAINS ON THE SUNCOAST. ...EXPECTED WIND HAZARDS... ON ITS CURRENT TRACK...TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL AFFECT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AROUND DAYBREAK FRIDAY AND CONTINUE UP THE COAST BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. HURRICANE FORCE SUSTAINED WINDS AND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE VERY NEAR WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL...ESPECIALLY IN THE EASTERN SEMICIRCLE OF THE STORM. WIDESPREAD MINOR TO MODERATE WIND DAMAGE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY WITH THIS STORM...EVEN WELL INLAND. ...STORM SURGE... THE MOVEMENT OF THE STORM WILL CAUSE THE POTENTIAL FOR A RAPID RISE IN WATER LEVELS ALONG AND TO THE SOUTH OF WHERE THE CENTER CROSSES LAND. THERE IS STILL A GREAT DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY EXACTLY WHERE THE CENTER WILL CROSS...AS THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR THE STORM TO TRACK VERY CLOSE TO THE COAST BEFORE SWINGING INLAND. COASTAL RESIDENTS...INCLUDING THOSE IN PRONE AREAS OF TAMPA BAY AND CHARLOTTE HARBOR...SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR A POSSIBLE EVACUATION. ...HEAVY RAINS... STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES ARE EXPECTED AND WITH THE GROUND ALREADY SATURATED ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL SUNCOAST...ANY ADDITIONAL WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINS COULD EXACERBATE THE FLOOD POTENTIAL ON RAIN SWOLLEN RIVERS AND LOW LYING OR POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY FRIDAY AS CHARLEY SWEEPS ACROSS THE SUNCOAST. && FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TBW (LOWER CASE) FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION...CHECK OUT HTTP://WWW.NHC.NOAA.GOV PRC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 217 PM EDT THU AUG 12 2004 FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-130100- CITRUS-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO- PINELLAS-POLK-SUMTER- 217 PM EDT THU AUG 12 2004 ...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER #744 IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RUSKIN HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR PASCO...SUMTER...LEVY...CITRUS...HILLSBOROUGH...HERNANDO...POLK... HIGHLANDS...HARDEE...PINELLAS AND MANATEE COUNTIES. STRENGTHENING CIRCULATION BETWEEN LANDFALLING TROPICAL STORM BONNIE IN THE BIG BEND AND APPROACHING HURRICANE CHARLEY IN THE NORTHWEST CARIBBEAN...COMBINED WITH DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE...WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW BANDS OF FAST MOVING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP ACROSS MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA FROM THE TAMPA BAY AND INTERIOR COUNTIES NORTH TO THE NATURE COAST. SMALL FAST MOVING TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR UPDATES...AS WELL AS POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS...THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. && FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TBW (LOWER CASE) BSG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 315 PM EDT THU AUG 12 2004 FLZ042-048>051-130108- CITRUS-HERNANDO-HILLSBOROUGH-PASCO-PINELLAS- 315 PM EDT THU AUG 12 2004 ...GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH WITH LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS... A LINE OF SHOWERS WILL RACE THROUGH THE TAMPA BAY METRO AREA...INCLUDING HERNANDO...PASCO...HILLSBOROUGH...AND PINELLAS COUNTIES...THROUGH 345 PM. THIS LINE IS THE LAST GASP OF TROPICAL STORM BONNIE...AND WILL PRODUCE BRIEF SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 50 MPH OR MORE IN SOME AREAS. MINOR DAMAGE IS LIKELY TO POORLY ANCHORED STRUCTURES AS WELL AS SOME TREE DAMAGE. MOTORISTS...ESPECIALLY THOSE IN HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES...MAY WANT TO DELAY TRIPS UNTIL THE LINE PASSES THROUGH. IN ADDITION TO THE WINDS...A BRIEF DOWNPOUR WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO 1 MILE OR LESS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR UPDATES. && FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION, CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TBW
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A waterspout moved onshore in an undeveloped area on the east tip of Sanibel Island. A video showed several people kicking up sand into the decaying vortex.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Florida, 2004Warnings in Florida, August 2004
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: 5417276.