A rapidly deepening low pressure center over the eastern Gulf of Mexico moved across west central Florida, tracking directly over Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Polk counties. The tight pressure gradient around the low center produced sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts of 45 to 55 mph occurring near the coast around Tampa Bay for around two hours from 4 AM to 6 AM EST.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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 episode as NWS TBW wrote it up.
A rapidly deepening low pressure center over the eastern Gulf of Mexico moved across west central Florida, tracking directly over Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Polk counties. The tight pressure gradient around the low center produced sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts of 45 to 55 mph occurring near the coast around Tampa Bay for around two hours from 4 AM to 6 AM EST. Wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph were felt as far south as Fort Myers and as far north as Brooksville. The strongest wind gusts occurred at the Old Port Tampa station, measuring 71 mph, and at Longboat Pass where a spotter estimated gusts of 75 mph. There was also a report of 93 mph measured from the top deck of the Carnival cruise ship Miracle that was traveling through Tampa Bay between 4 AM and 5 AM. Some minor coastal flooding also occurred as winds became onshore, with a surge of 6.1 feet at Clearwater Beach, and around 4 feet occurring in the areas around Tampa Bay. The surge caused some minor beach erosion in Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Manatee counties. Some wind damage was reported in Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Manatee counties with this event. In Pasco county near Holiday, there was some damage to a mobile home park, with a roof blown off one mobile home. In Pinellas county, there were numerous power lines down across the county leaving 38,000 customers without power, and in Saint Petersburg there was some damage to a mobile home park. Numerous trees and power lines were down in Hillsborough county, leaving 35,000 customers without power. In Manatee county near the coast around Bradenton, a roof was blown off a shed, there was minor roof damage on two mobile homes, and numerous power lines were down leaving 1,200 customers without power. Also, a luxury yacht broke free from its moorings, damaging the yacht as well as the dock and pilings.
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 Dec 26, 3:30 AM EST, 30 minutes earlier.
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 330 AM EST SUN DEC 26 2004 .SHORT TERM (TODAY-TUE)...THE LOW PRESSURE CENTER IS CURRENTLY OVER THE TAMPA BAY AREA AND THE TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT IS CAUSING STRONG GUSTY WINDS AS HIGH AS 27 KNOTS OVER LAND AND UP TO 56 KNOTS AT BUOY 42003 WELL OFFSHORE OF LEE COUNTY. WILL THEREFORE ISSUE A HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR THE AREA BEACHES AS WELL AS A WIND ADVISORY THIS MORNING FOR PASCO COUNTY SOUTH. WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH THIS AFTERNOON AS THE LOW WILL QUICKLY MOVE ACROSS THE STATE WITH THE STRONG UPPER TROUGH SWINGING THROUGH NORTH FL. MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES WILL CONTINUE THIS MORNING WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAIN EVERYWHERE...EXCEPT A CHANCE FOR RAIN ACROSS THE NORTH...AND THEN BEGIN TO CLEAR OUT LATE THIS AFTERNOON AS DEEPER DRIER AIR ADVECTS INTO THE REGION. HIGH PRESSURE RIDGES OVER THE STATE FROM NORTH OF THE AREA STARTING TONIGHT AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE END OF THE PERIOD AS THE HIGH CENTER SINKS SOUTHWARD. SKIES WILL BECOME MOSTLY CLEAR EACH NIGHT AND THEN PARTLY CLOUDY IN THE AFTERNOONS. TEMPS WILL BE SUPPRESSED SOME TODAY WITH THE CLOUDY/WINDY MORNING...REACHING THE MID 50S NORTH TO MID 60S SOUTH. A COOLER NIGHT IN STORE TONIGHT AS WINDS CALM AND SKIES CLEAR OUT...ALLOWING FOR LOTS OF RADIATIONAL COOLING. TEMPS ACROSS THE NORTH WILL BE NEAR FREEZING INLAND...WITH AROUND 40 CENTRAL AND LOWER 40S SOUTH. TEMPS WILL THEN GRADUALLY REBOUND TO NEAR NORMAL BY TUESDAY. .LONG TERM (TUE NIGHT-SUN)...VIRTUALLY NO CHANGE TO THE FCST FROM MIDWEEK THROUGH NEW YEARS DAY. BROAD...SLOW BUILDING UPPER RIDGE ACROSS THE GULF AND SE STATES ENSURES THAT A SFC HIGH WILL REMAIN ANCHORED FROM THE MID ATLC THROUGH THE EASTERN GULF WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE ENE FLOW THROUGH THE PERIOD. SLOW WARMUP EXPECTED AS LOW LEVEL TEMPS TAKE THEIR TIME RISING...BUT THURS THROUGH SAT STILL LOOK TO AVERAGE AROUND 5 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. AS FOR PCPN...VERY DRY MID LEVELS HOLD THROUGH THE PERIOD. GFS SHOWING POTENTIAL FOR CIRRUS TO SPILL OVER THE RIDGE AND HINTS AT SOME VERTICAL EXTENT TO THE CU AS SFC-850MB FLOW VEERS TO THE ESE... BUT GIVEN UNFAVORABLE TIME OF YEAR PREFER TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF OPTIMISM. AS MENTIONED IN PRIOR DISCUSSION...NEXT WEEKEND SHOULD BE A COMPLETE REVERSAL OF THIS ONE. && .MARINE...THE PRESSURE GRADIENT AROUND THE LOW CENTER IS VERY TIGHT AND HAS CAUSED WINDS AND SEAS TO RAPIDLY RISE OVERNIGHT. MANY LOCATIONS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS HAVE SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO 25 KNOTS WITH FREQUENT GUSTS OF 35 TO 40+ KNOTS AND SEAS HAVE RISEN UP TO 13 FEET OFFSHORE. WILL THEREFORE PUT UP A GALE WARNING FOR ALL THE COASTAL WATERS EXCEPT TAMPA BAY...AS THE LOW CENTER IS TRACKING DIRECTLY OVER THE BAY AND WIND GUSTS SHOULD NOT BE AS STRONG OR FREQUENT TO WARRANT A GALE WARNING. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL INSTEAD REMAIN IN PLACE FOR TAMPA BAY...WITH AROUND 20 KNOT AND GUSTY WINDS. WINDS AND SEAS WILL BEGIN TO SUBSIDE LATE TONIGHT...BUT REMAIN GENERALLY AROUND 15 KNOTS THROUGH THE PERIOD AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS TO THE NORTH. && .FIRE WEATHER...NO CONCERNS FOR TODAY. MONDAY AFTERNOON WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED AS DRIER AIR MOVES INTO THE REGION CAUSING MIN RHS TO FALL TO THE MID 30% RANGE ACROSS THE NORTHERN INLAND ZONES. FOR NOW DURATIONS ONLY APPEAR TO BE 1 TO 2 HOURS. MOISTURE WILL RETURN FOR TUES WITH NO CONCERNS BEYOND THAT. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 060 041 065 047 / 20 00 00 00 FMY 067 042 070 050 / 20 00 00 00 GIF 060 040 066 047 / 20 00 00 00 SRQ 062 042 067 047 / 20 00 00 00 BKV 057 033 064 039 / 20 00 00 00 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GALE WARNING BONITA BEACH TO SUWANNEE RIVER OUT 60 NM. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR TAMPA BAY. HIGH SURF ADVISORY PASCO COUNTY SOUTH THROUGH 4 PM. WIND ADVISORY PASCO COUNTY SOUTH THROUGH 10 AM. && SHORT TERM...JLC LONG TERM...BSG
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 525 AM EST SAT DEC 25 2004 FLZ039-042-043-048>052-251430- CITRUS-HERNANDO-HILLSBOROUGH-LEVY-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-SUMTER- 525 AM EST SAT DEC 25 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA NORTH OF TAMPA BAY. .DAY ONE...TODAY: A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO WILL MOVE EASTWARD TO ACROSS THE SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA THROUGH TONIGHT...PUSHING DEEP MOIST AIR OVER THE COLD AIRMASS IN PLACE. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL ACCOMPANY THIS SYSTEM ALONG WITH STRONG WINDS ALOFT...PROVIDING ENHANCED ENERGY AND WIND SHEAR. THIS WILL ALLOW SOME ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS...POSSIBLY PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...TO DEVELOP IN THE AREAS OF RAIN THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. BOATERS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION OVER THE COASTAL WATERS TODAY AS EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS AND SEAS OF 3 TO 5 FEET ARE EXPECTED. WINDS AND SEAS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT TO NEAR SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS BEHIND THE LOW PRESSURE CENTER. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR UPDATES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY: NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...NEAR FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY NIGHT ACROSS INLAND PORTIONS OF THE NATURE COAST AS SKIES BECOME MOSTLY CLEAR AND WINDS BECOME LIGHT. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. && FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TBW (LOWER CASE) FLZ055>057-060>062-065-251430- CHARLOTTE-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-LEE-MANATEE-SARASOTA- 525 AM EST SAT DEC 25 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SOUTH OF TAMPA BAY. .DAY ONE...TODAY: A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO WILL MOVE EASTWARD TO ACROSS THE SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA THROUGH TONIGHT...LIFTING A WARM FRONT THROUGH THE AREA AND CAUSING PERIODS OF RAIN. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL ACCOMPANY THIS SYSTEM ALONG WITH STRONG WINDS ALOFT...PROVIDING ENHANCED ENERGY AND WIND SHEAR. THIS WILL ALLOW SOME THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP AND BECOME SEVERE...WITH THE MAIN HAZARD BEING DAMAGING WINDS. AN ISOLATED TORNADO WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT MAINLY IN THE VICINITY OF THE WARM FRONT. RESIDENTS SHOULD STAY ADVISED OF THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS SYSTEM. BOATERS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION OVER THE COASTAL WATERS TODAY AS EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS AND SEAS OF 3 TO 5 FEET ARE EXPECTED. WINDS AND SEAS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT TO NEAR SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS BEHIND THE LOW PRESSURE CENTER. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR UPDATES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY: NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. && FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TBW (LOWER CASE)
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 1108 PM EST SAT DEC 25 2004 FLZ042-048-049-261000- CITRUS-HERNANDO-PASCO- 1108 PM EST SAT DEC 25 2004 ...GALE FORCE WIND GUSTS NEAR THE COAST AND RAPIDLY ROUGHENING SURF LATER TONIGHT... STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL SUNCOAST BEFORE DAYBREAK SUNDAY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LOW PASSES...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST AND INCREASE TO 20 TO 25 MPH NEAR THE COAST...15 TO 20 MPH WELL INLAND. GUSTS MAY EXCEED GALE FORCE...39 MPH...ALONG THE COAST AND COULD REACH 30 MPH INLAND FOR A SHORT TIME EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. THE WIND SHIFT WILL BRING A RAPID INCREASE IN SEA HEIGHTS AS WELL AS ROUGH NEARSHORE WATERS BETWEEN 5 AND 8 AM. THE ROUGH CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE INTO EARLY AFTERNOON BEFORE SUBSIDING. COASTAL RESIDENTS MAY WISH TO FASTEN ANY LOOSE ITEMS IMMEDIATELY. MARINERS SHOULD POSTPONE ANY TRIPS PLANNED FOR SUNDAY MORNING. 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 FLZ050-051-055-060-062-065-261000- CHARLOTTE-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-MANATEE-PINELLAS-SARASOTA- 1108 PM EST SAT DEC 25 2004 ...GALE FORCE WIND GUSTS NEAR THE COAST AND RAPIDLY ROUGHENING SURF LATER TONIGHT... STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL SUNCOAST BEFORE DAYBREAK SUNDAY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LOW PASSES...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST AND INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH NEAR THE COAST...15 TO 25 MPH WELL INLAND. GUSTS WILL EXCEED GALE FORCE...39 MPH...ALONG THE COAST AND COULD REACH 45 MPH. GUSTS MAY APPROACH 35 MPH INLAND FOR A SHORT TIME EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. THE WIND SHIFT WILL BRING A RAPID INCREASE IN SEA HEIGHTS...PERHAPS APPROACHING 10 FEET JUST OFFSHORE...AS WELL AS ROUGH AND CONFUSED SURF AT THE BEACHES BETWEEN 5 AND 8 AM. A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS EXISTS ON SUNDAY. HIGH SURF ADVISORIES MAY BE ISSUED LATER TONIGHT AS CONDITIONS DEVELOP. COASTAL RESIDENTS MAY WISH TO FASTEN ANY LOOSE ITEMS IMMEDIATELY. MARINERS SHOULD POSTPONE ANY TRIPS PLANNED FOR SUNDAY MORNING. 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 BSG
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 strong wind, 4 high surf, 3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, December 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: 5428382, 5428383, 5428384, 5428385, 5428386, 5428387, 5428388, 5428389, 5428390, 5428391, 5428392, 5428393, 5428394.