A line of thunderstorms developed in the Gulf of Mexico far ahead of an approaching cold front. This line caused one lightning injury and wind gusts of 40 to 56 MPH across west central Florida.
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 episode as NWS TBW wrote it up.
A line of thunderstorms developed in the Gulf of Mexico far ahead of an approaching cold front. This line caused one lightning injury and wind gusts of 40 to 56 MPH across west central Florida.
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 Feb 13, 9:54 AM EST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 954 AM EST TUE FEB 13 2007 .UPDATE...LOTS OF SUNSHINE OCCURRING OVER MOST OF THE REGION THIS MORNING...WITH MOST OF THE CLOUDS CONFINED TO THE NATURE COAST. TEMPERATURES ARE CLIMBING INTO THE MIDDLE AND UPPER 60S AT THIS TIME...AND WITH CONTINUED SUNSHINE THROUGH MID-DAY...EXPECT MANY AREAS AWAY FROM THE COAST TO HIT THE UPPER 70S. THIS WILL HELP TO DESTABILIZE THE ATMOSPHERE AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING CONVECTIVE COMPLEX...CURRENTLY OVER THE LOOP CURRENT IN THE EASTERN GULF. WITH WARM AND INCREASINGLY MOIST SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM...WE ARE A BIT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS...ESPECIALLY OVER THE INTERIOR. WILL ISSUE A SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT SHORTLY TO HIGHLIGHT THIS POTENTIAL...AND UPDATE THE ZONES TO INCLUDE GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL IN THE STRONGER STORMS. INDIVIDUAL CELLS AHEAD OF THE MAIN LINE MAY SHOW SOME ROTATION...BUT HELICITIES ARE MARGINAL AT BEST AND THE LACK OF A WELL DEFINED LOW-LEVEL JET WILL KEEP TORNADO THREAT FAIRLY SMALL. && .AVIATION...GENERALLY VFR CONDITIONS REST OF THIS MORNING...HOWEVER MONITORING LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND TSTM ACTIVITY TO OUR WEST. EXPECTING THIS ACTIVITY TO GRADUALLY MOVE ONSHORE AND AFFECT MOST OF TERMINALS (ESP THE NORTHERN SITES) THIS AFTERNOON. THIS ACTIVITY WILL RESULT IN MVFR CONDITIONS IN SHOWER ACTIVITY AND ISOLD IFR ASSOC WITH TSTM ACTIVITY. EXPECTING VFR CONDITIONS TO RETURN LATER THIS EVENING. && .MARINE...LARGE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WARMER LOOP CURRENT WILL TRY TO ADVANCE EASTWARD INTO THE COASTAL WATERS TODAY. WE EXPECT SOME SHOWERS AND STORMS TODAY...BUT WE ALSO EXPECT SOME WEAKENING AS THE STORMS MOVE OVER THE COOL SHELF WATERS. ISOLATED WATERSPOUTS CANT BE RULED OUT. CURRENT FORECAST IS ON TRACK SO JUST MINOR CHANGES PLANNED. && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. GULF WATERS...NONE. && JILLSON/PETRO
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 442 AM EST TUE FEB 13 2007 FLZ039-042-043-048-131545- LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO- 442 AM EST TUE FEB 13 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A COUPLE OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL MOVE ACROSS THE STATE. THE FIRST WILL BRING SHOWERS AND A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATER THIS AFTERNOON. LOW LEVEL WINDS MAY HAVE ENOUGH ROTATION TO ALLOW FOR AN ISOLATED TORNADO AND COLD AIR ALOFT WILL BRING A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR LARGE HAIL. OTHERWISE RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT BRIEF HEAVY RAINS...GUSTY WINDS...AND OCCASIONAL TO FREQUENT LIGHTNING WITH THE STRONGER STORMS. THE SECOND DISTURBANCE WILL BRING ANOTHER LINE OF SHOWERS AS A WEAKENING SQUALL LINE MOVES IN FROM THE WEST THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH ACROSS THE STATE ON WEDNESDAY AND STALL TO OUR SOUTH. SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHT RAINS MAY DEVELOP NORTH OF THIS FRONTAL BOUNDARY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING BEFORE A REINFORCING COLD FRONT COMES DOWN FROM THE NORTH. WITH THE COLDER AIR...RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT TEMPERATURES NEAR FREEZING IN LEVY COUNTY FRIDAY MORNING. MODERATE WINDS THAT MORNING MAY BRING WIND CHILL VALUES BETWEEN 20 AND 30 DEGREES ACROSS ALL OF THE NATURE COAST. SATURDAY MORNING FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO BE MORE WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE NATURE COAST COUNTIES. YET ANOTHER FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT BRINGING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN AND THEN MORE POSSIBLE NEAR FREEZING TEMPERATURES MONDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATER THIS AFTERNOON. FLZ049>052-055>057-060>062-065-131545- PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK-MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS- SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE- 442 AM EST TUE FEB 13 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A COUPLE OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL MOVE ACROSS THE STATE. THE FIRST WILL BRING SHOWERS AND A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATER THIS AFTERNOON. WITH THE STRONGER STORMS...RESIDENTS AND VISITORS CAN EXPECT BRIEF HEAVY RAINS...GUSTY WINDS...AND OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING. THE SECOND DISTURBANCE WILL BRING ANOTHER LINE OF SHOWERS AS A WEAKENING SQUALL LINE MOVES IN FROM THE WEST THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH ACROSS THE STATE ON WEDNESDAY AND STALL TO OUR SOUTH. SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHT RAINS MAY DEVELOP NORTH OF THIS BOUNDARY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING BEFORE A REINFORCING COLD FRONT COMES DOWN. AS HIGH PRESSURE BEHIND THE FRONT SETTLES ACROSS THE STATE EARLY SATURDAY WINDS WILL DIE DOWN AND THIS COMBINED WITH CLEAR SKIES OVERNIGHT WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO FALL TO AROUND FREEZING IN THE NORMALLY COLDER INLAND LOCATIONS. YET ANOTHER FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT BRINGING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN...BUT AT THIS TIME FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE NOT FORECAST FOR EITHER SUNDAY OR MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 1014 AM EST TUE FEB 13 2007 FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-131800- LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK- MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CEDAR KEY...CHIEFLAND...CRYSTAL RIVER... INVERNESS...BUSHNELL...THE VILLAGES...BROOKSVILLE...SPRING HILL... NEW PORT RICHEY...ZEPHYRHILLS...CLEARWATER...ST. PETERSBURG... BRANDON...TAMPA...LAKELAND...WINTER HAVEN...BRADENTON... WAUCHULA...SEBRING...AVON PARK...SARASOTA...VENICE...ARCADIA... PORT CHARLOTTE...PUNTA GORDA...CAPE CORAL...FORT MYERS 1014 AM EST TUE FEB 13 2007 ...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TODAY... A WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL ORGANIZE OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES AND WILL DRAG A COLD FRONT INTO THE REGION LATER TONIGHT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING WELL AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT OVER THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO WILL BEGIN TO AFFECT AREAS FROM TAMPA BAY NORTH BETWEEN NOON AND 2 PM. MEANWHILE...A FEW HOURS OF SUNSHINE WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO CLIMB INTO THE UPPER 70S OVER THE INTERIOR OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. THIS WILL HELP TO FUEL ADDITIONAL SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT AHEAD OF THE MAIN AREA...AND SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE. THE MAIN THREAT TODAY WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL. AN ISOLATED AND SHORT LIVED WEAK TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT...BUT THE HIGHEST TORNADO THREAT WILL REMAIN NORTH OF OUR AREA. RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ARE URGED TO STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. && FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/TAMPABAY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 1214 PM EST TUE FEB 13 2007 FLZ050-051-131845- PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH- 1214 PM EST TUE FEB 13 2007 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MOST OF PINELLAS AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES... A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH...WILL AFFECT THE MENTIONED AREA INCLUDING PINELLAS PARK...LARGO... CLEARWATER...TAMPA...BRANDON AND SEMINOLE...UNTIL 145 PM EST. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL. TORRENTIAL RAINS MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION ESPECIALLY ALONG MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATES 275 AND 75. WHEN DRIVING THROUGH HEAVY RAIN...SLOW DOWN. ALWAYS LEAVE A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER VEHICLES. WHEN USING WIPERS...TURN ON HEADLIGHTS. AVOID DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES THAT COULD HIDE POTHOLES OR CAUSE HYDROPLANING. SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE DIE IN WEATHER RELATED AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS EACH YEAR... MANY DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND WET ROADS. 22
The Tampa radar (KTBW), 32 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:19 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A 38-year-old male landscaper was struck by lightning while planting bushes. Lightning struck and split a nearby tree. The man was taken to a medical center and was listed in fair condition.
Windows were broken and small trees were downed in Bartow. A measured gust of 56 MPH was reported several minutes earlier 9 miles west of Bartow from a trained SKYWARN spotter.
Law enforcement reported a camper had rolled over near the 400 block of Bethea Lane.
Penny size hail was reported by the public in Sebring.
County officials reported trees and power lines were downed near U.S. Highway 17.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, February 2007
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: 12806, 12811, 12813, 12817, 12816.