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 Tampa Bay, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 11, 12:35 PM EST, 4 hours 55 minutes earlier.
WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 135 PM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004 .SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH TUE NIGHT)...A TUTT LIKE FEATURE TRACKS WESTWARD ACROSS CUBA AS A H5 CENTER MOVES ALONG THE GULF COAST INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS...IN RESPONSE TO AN UPPER TROUGH FORMING ALONG THE EASTERN SEA BOARD. THESE FEATURES WILL KEEP A MOIST/ PRECIPITABLE WATER 1.8-2.2 IN/ NORTHERLY...BUT BECOMING MORE EASTERLY...MID AND UPPER FLOW THROUGH THE PERIOD. A SURFACE RIDGE WILL SHIFT FROM CENTRAL TO SOUTH FL TONIGHT AND THEN WEAKEN SOME OVER SOUTH FL OR THE STRAITS THROUGH TUE AS A SURFACE BUILDS OVER THE WESTERN GULF...PROVIDING A GENERALLY WEST TO SOUTHWEST LOW LEVEL FLOW ACROSS THE CWFA. GIVEN ALL THIS...WILL KEEP POPS SCATTERED IN THE RANGE OF 40 TO 50 % WITH THE HIGHEST IN THE AFTERNOONS ACROSS THE INTERIOR. HOWEVER...WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT THE BEGINNING TIME FROM AFTERNOON TO LATE MORNING DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS THE WEST-SOUTHWEST FLOW BUILDS IN. .LONG TERM (TUE NGT-SUN)...MODELS CONTINUE TO DEPICT DEVELOPING TROUGH OVER EASTERN U.S. THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH SERIES OF SHORT WAVES MOVING THROUGH IT. ASSOCIATED SURFACE FRONT EXPECTED TO MOVE SLOWLY SOUTH REACHING NORTH FLORIDA THURSDAY AND THEN BECOMING NEARLY STATIONARY INTO NEXT WEEKEND. THIS WILL SETUP A DEEP WEST SOUTHWEST FLOW OF MOIST AIR ACROSS THE REGION AND WILL LIKELY SEE SOME DECENT RAINFALL ACROSS SOME PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA LATE IN THE WEEK. EXACT LOCATION AND TIMING REMAINS UNCERTAIN...BUT APPEARS THAT BEST CHANCES FOR HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR THURSDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. HOWEVER...STILL A FEW DAYS AWAY SO WILL CONTINUE WITH SCATTERED POPS AT THIS TIME. MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TO BE NEAR NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH MINIMUMS SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL THANKS TO WINDS OFF GULF OF MEXICO. && .MARINE...OTHER THAN THUNDERSTORMS NO PROBLEMS AS SOME WHAT VARIABLE WINDS BECOME WEST AND SOUTHWEST THROUGH THE PERIOD AT 10KTS OR LESS. && .FIRE WEATHER...NO HIGHLIGHTS. && .PRELIMINARY NUMBERS... TPA 77 89 77 89 / 30 50 30 50 FMY 74 90 74 91 / 30 50 30 50 GIF 75 92 75 92 / 20 50 30 50 SRQ 75 89 75 89 / 30 40 20 40 BKV 73 90 73 90 / 30 50 30 50 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && SHORT TERM RKR LONG TERM PRC
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 532 AM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004 FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-111600- CHARLOTTE-CITRUS-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE- LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-SARASOTA-SUMTER- 532 AM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY: WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING. DAMAGING WIND WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT. TREES...POWER LINES...AND POORLY CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS WILL BE MOST AT RISK. THE STORMS WILL MOVE SLOWLY SO LOCALLY VERY HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES OR WARNINGS. DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY: SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED EVERY AFTERNOON THROUGH THE PERIOD. SOME MAY BECOME STRONG. SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 547 PM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004 FLZ039-112230- LEVY- 547 PM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT LEVY COUNTY... ...THESE STORMS WILL MOVE LITTLE...AND WILL AFFECT RURAL CENTRAL LEVY COUNTY EAST OF OTTER CREEK SOUTHEAST TO LEBANON...UNTIL 630 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH MAY CAUSE LOOSE OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND WIRES IS POSSIBLE. 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. RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL OCCUR. MOTORISTS CAN EXPECT PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. SHARP
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
553 PM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0515 PM WATER SPOUT 2 E PORT CHARLOTTE 26.98N 82.07W
07/11/2004 CHARLOTTE FL FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
WATERSPOUT REPORTED BY CHARLOTTE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
OVER THE MOUTH OF THE PEACE RIVER IN NORTHERN CHARLOTTE
HARBOR...BETWEEN I-75 AND US 41.
0542 PM HAIL 1 E PORT CHARLOTTE 26.98N 82.08W
07/11/2004 1.00 INCH CHARLOTTE FL TRAINED SPOTTER
QARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED JUST NORTH OF THE PEACE RIVER
AND CHARLOTTE HARBOR IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY.
&&
AWIPSUSRPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED FOR NAME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
555 PM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0515 PM WATER SPOUT 2 E PORT CHARLOTTE 26.98N 82.07W
07/11/2004 CHARLOTTE FL FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
WATERSPOUT REPORTED BY CHARLOTTE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
OVER THE MOUTH OF THE PEACE RIVER IN NORTHERN CHARLOTTE
HARBOR...BETWEEN I-75 AND US 41.
0542 PM HAIL 1 E PORT CHARLOTTE 26.98N 82.08W
07/11/2004 1.00 INCH CHARLOTTE FL TRAINED SPOTTER
QARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED JUST NORTH OF THE PEACE RIVER
AND CHARLOTTE HARBOR IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY.
&&
RFMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 555 PM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004 FLZ051-055-112245- HILLSBOROUGH-MANATEE- 555 PM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004 ...STRONG WINDS WILL AFFECT EASTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH AND MANATEE COUNTIES... ...AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY...MOVING WEST AT 20 MPH...WILL AFFECT EASTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH AND MANATEE COUNTIES...UNTIL 645 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH MAY CAUSE LOOSE OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND WIRES IS POSSIBLE. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL OCCUR. MOTORISTS CAN EXPECT PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. RJS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 602 PM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004 FLZ039-112230- LEVY- 602 PM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT LEVY COUNTY... ...THESE STORMS WILL MOVE LITTLE...AND WILL ARE ALONG A LINE FROM CHIEFLAND SOUTHEAST TO LEBANON...UNTIL 630 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH MAY CAUSE LOOSE OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND WIRES IS POSSIBLE. 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. RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL OCCUR. MOTORISTS CAN EXPECT PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. SHARP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 615 PM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004 FLZ051-055-112245- HILLSBOROUGH-MANATEE- 615 PM EDT SUN JUL 11 2004 ...STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVER SOUTHERN HILLSBOROUGH AND NORTHERN MANATEE COUNTIES... ...AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY...MOVING WEST AT 20 MPH...WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT SOUTHERN HILLSBOROUGH AND NORTHERN MANATEE COUNTIES...UNTIL 645 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH MAY CAUSE LOOSE OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND WIRES IS POSSIBLE. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL OCCUR. MOTORISTS CAN EXPECT PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. RJS
The Tampa radar (KTBW), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:28 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A 46 year old male was struck by lightning while fishing on the Boca Graande's South River Trestle Fishing Pier.
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, July 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: 5412763.