A waterspout and at least two tornadoes formed along the west Florida coast sea breeze front in the Fort Myers area.
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 waterspout and at least two tornadoes formed along the west Florida coast sea breeze front in the Fort Myers area.
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 Sep 16, 12:19 PM EST, 5 hours 6 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 119 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2007 .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT-TUE)...THE ENERGY FROM THE UPPER TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN U.S. WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE STATE TODAY AS RIDGING BUILDS ACROSS THE CENTRAL PENINSULA FROM THE SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S. AN UPPER LOW IS ALSO IN PLACE ACROSS THE NORTHERN CARIBBEAN AND EASTERN CUBA. A SHORTWAVE WILL DIG INTO NORTHERN FL BY MONDAY AND PUSH THE RIDGE CENTER NORTH AND WEST. THE SHORTWAVE IS THEN EXPECTED TO CUTOFF EARLY TUESDAY AND MERGE WITH THE CARIBBEAN TROUGH AS THE LOW CENTER SETTLES SW OVER FL AND THE HIGH STRETCHES NE OVER THE EASTERN U.S. THROUGH TUESDAY. AT THE SFC...THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND STALL ACROSS SOUTHERN FL TONIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE EASTERN U.S. RIDGES IN ACROSS NORTHERN FL. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE AREA WILL TIGHTEN MONDAY AS RIDGING CONTINUES TO BUILD ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE STATE AND THE STALLED BOUNDARY MERGES WITH AN INVERTED TROUGH OVER THE CARIBBEAN THROUGH TUESDAY. PLACEMENT OF THE UPPER LOW AND SFC TROUGH IS STILL A BIT VARIABLE...WITH THE NAM STRONGER AND FARTHER EAST THAN THE GFS...BUT THEY ARE IN MUCH BETTER AGREEMENT THIS MORNING THAN YESTERDAY. WITH BETTER MOISTURE ACROSS THE SOUTH TONIGHT AND CONVECTION ALREADY DEVELOPED ALONG THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE...HAVE BUMPED POPS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN ZONES UP TO 30 PERCENT TONIGHT WITH 20 PERCENT ELSEWHERE. A LITTLE DRIER AIR WILL FILTER DOWN THE STATE FOR TOMORROW AND HAVE 30-40 PERCENT CHANCES MON AND TUES AFTERNOONS WITH 20 PERCENT MON EVENING. TEMPS CONTINUE NEAR NORMAL WITH HIGHS AROUND 90 AND LOWS IN THE LOWER-MID 70S. .LONG TERM (TUE NIGHT-SUN)...MID/UPPER LEVEL LOW IN THE VICINITY OF THE FLORIDA PENINSULA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD IS EXPECTED TO SHIFT WEST ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK. MEANWHILE AT THE SURFACE...HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE OVER THE EASTERN U.S. WITH MODELS TRYING TO DEVELOP A WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO WHICH SHIFTS WEST WITH TIME. THE EXACT TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF THE MID/UPPER LEVEL LOW AND ASSOCIATED PLUME OF MOISTURE CONTINUES TO VARY BETWEEN EACH MODEL AS WELL AS BETWEEN MODEL RUNS. WILL THEREFORE LEAVE PREVIOUS SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS POPS AS IS AND WAIT TO TO SEE IF MODELS BECOME MORE CONSISTENT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. DURING NEXT WEEKEND MID/UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WILL BEGIN TO REBUILD OVER THE REGION WITH A COOL FRONT MOVING INTO THE SOUTHEAST U.S. SETTING UP A MORE TYPICAL SCATTERED MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING CONVECTION PATTERN. MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON AMOUNT OF CLOUDS AND RAIN FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...BUT WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF SUN EACH DAY WE SHOULD SEE HIGHS CLIMB INTO THE UPPER 80S. NEXT WEEKEND MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES SHOULD RETURN TO AROUND 90. OVERNIGHT MINIMUMS ARE EXPECTED REMAIN NEAR NORMAL...MAINLY IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S. && .AVIATION...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS STILL EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTHERN AREAS AROUND FMY/RSW. STORMS WILL CAUSE SOME BRIEF MVFR/LOCAL IFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES. LATE TONIGHT THERE COULD BE SOME AREAS OF MVFR VISIBILITIES IN FOG... OTHERWISE VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PREVAIL INTO MONDAY MORNING. && .MARINE...GENERALLY E/NE FLOW WILL REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH SPEEDS INCREASING TO NEAR CAUTIONARY LEVELS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN WATERS...AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS BETWEEN RIDGING TO THE NORTH AND AN INVERTED TROUGH TO THE SOUTHEAST. WINDS WILL BECOME MORE S/SE FOR THU AND FRI AS THE TROUGH PUSHES WEST OF THE STATE WITH SPEEDS AND SEAS REMAINING ELEVATED THROUGH MUCH OF THE PERIOD. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO BE EXPECTED EACH DAY. && .FIRE WEATHER...NO CONCERNS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 76 90 73 88 / 20 30 20 30 FMY 75 91 74 89 / 30 40 20 40 GIF 74 90 72 88 / 20 40 20 40 SRQ 75 90 72 89 / 20 30 20 30 BKV 71 88 70 87 / 20 30 20 30 SPG 78 89 76 87 / 20 30 20 30 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. GULF WATERS...NONE. && SHORT TERM/MARINE...24 LONG TERM/AVIATION...69
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 352 AM EDT SUN SEP 16 2007 FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-162000- LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK- MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE- 352 AM EDT SUN SEP 16 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... MAIN CONCERN TODAY WILL BE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE STRONGER STORMS EXPECTED OVER THE SOUTHERN AND INTERIOR COUNTIES. HAZARDS INCLUDE PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WINDS IN THE 40 TO 45 MPH CATEGORY AND DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. SEEK SHELTER AND REMAIN INDOOR UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED. MOTORISTS ENJOYING SUNDAY AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES MUST EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING UNDER HEAVY DOWNPOURS ESPECIALLY ALONG MAJOR ROADS AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... MAIN HAZARDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE POTENTIAL FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL INCREASE WITH POSSIBLE NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING MUCH OF THE AREA. AGAIN EXPECT LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY. REYNES
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 443 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2007 FLZ052-162130- POLK- 443 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2007 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ORGANIZING WITH GUSTY WINDS OVER 40 MPH AS THEY MOVE SOUTHWEST THROUGH WESTERN AND CENTRAL POLK COUNTY... A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 10 MPH...WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT WINTER HAVEN AND AUBURNDALE UNTIL 450 PM...THEN CONTINUE SOUTH AND WEST REACHING LAKELAND BEFORE 5 PM AND BARTOW AND LAKE WALES BEFORE 515 PM. GUSTY WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH MAY CAUSE LOOSE OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. AT 437 PM...WINTER HAVEN GILBERT FIELD RECORDED A WIND GUST OF 36 MPH. 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 ALSO PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES...AND MOTORISTS MAY WANT TO DELAY TRAVEL BRIEFLY...BUT THE STORM WILL ONLY LAST 10 TO 15 MINUTES IN ANY ONE LOCATION. BSG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 458 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2007 FLZ051-162145- HILLSBOROUGH- 458 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2007 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM HEADED TOWARD DOWNTOWN TAMPA... A THUNDERSTORM...MOVING SOUTH AT 10 MPH...WILL AFFECT EAST LAKE-ORIENT PARK...TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...TAMPA AND MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE...UNTIL 545 PM EDT. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. MOTORISTS...PARTICULARLY THOSE HEADING EAST AND NORTHEAST ONTO I 275 AND I 4 FROM AROUND THE STADIUM...SHOULD EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION UNTIL THE STORM PASSES BY. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH WILL OCCUR. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. && 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. MAKE SURE YOUR HEADLAMPS...TIRES...AND WIPERS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. KEEP AN EMERGENCY KIT WHICH INCLUDES A FLASHLIGHT...FLARES...AND SIMPLE HAND TOOLS. SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE DIE IN WEATHER RELATED AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS EACH YEAR... MANY DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND WET ROADS. REMEMBER: VISIBILITY AND TRACTION LEAVE TIME FOR REACTION BSG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 523 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2007 FLZ060-162145- SARASOTA- 523 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2007 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRESSING SOUTH ALONG THE SARASOTA COUNTY COAST... A THUNDERSTORM...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 10 MPH...WILL AFFECT SOUTH SARASOTA...AND SIESTA KEY UNTIL 530 PM...REACHING VENICE AND SOUTH VENICE BETWEEN 530 AND 545 PM. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH WILL OCCUR. 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. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. MOTORISTS MAY WANT TO DELAY TRAVEL ALONG AND WEST OF I 75 TOWARD THE BEACHES UNTIL THE STORMS PASS. BSG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 545 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2007 FLZ051-162230- HILLSBOROUGH- 545 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2007 ...THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY AS THEY MOVE INTO EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FROM I 4 SOUTHWARD... THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 10 MPH...WILL AFFECT PLANT CITY UNTIL 6 PM. THE COLLISION OF OUTFLOW FROM CELLS NEAR TAMPA AND THOSE MOVING INTO PLANT CITY WILL LIKELY PRODUCE INTENSE STORMS ALONG STATE ROUTE 60 BETWEEN 6 AND 630 PM...INCLUDING RIVERVIEW...LITHIA...FISH HAWK RANCH...AND EXTENDING SOUTH TOWARD BOYETTE. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES. MOTORISTS MAY WANT TO DELAY TRAVEL AS 2 OR MORE INCHES OF RAIN ARE POSSIBLE IN SOME AREAS...PARTICULARLY ALONG AND JUST SOUTH OF STATE ROAD 60. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH WILL OCCUR. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. STRONGER CELLS WILL PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL IN A FEW LOCATIONS. && 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. MAKE SURE YOUR HEADLAMPS...TIRES...AND WIPERS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. KEEP AN EMERGENCY KIT WHICH INCLUDES A FLASHLIGHT...FLARES...AND SIMPLE HAND TOOLS. SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE DIE IN WEATHER RELATED AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS EACH YEAR... MANY DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND WET ROADS. REMEMBER: VISIBILITY AND TRACTION LEAVE TIME FOR REACTION BSG
The Tampa radar (KTBW), 147 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:23 UTC.
2 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A waterspout moved onshore near Estero Boulevard and Canal Street as a tornado and damaged the roof of a resort hotel and a nearby Tiki bar.
Thunderstorms continued to develop northward along the sea breeze front and produced a tornado that traveled due north from near the intersection of Rose Garden and and El Dorado Parkway West to near Skyline Boulevard and Veterans memorial Parkway. The damage path was less than the size of a single family home for most of the track and the average wind speed based on the damage was 65-75 MPH. The EF1 damage was of a home nearly cut in half by the tornado with wind speeds estimated at 105 MPH. The lower than expected wind estimate was a result of older building codes and the roof blowout occurred as a result of a large picture window being blown in. About 138 homes were damaged. Six homes received moderate damage and one home was destroyed. The tornado snapped several power poles and damaged numerous fences, sheds and trees. Several vehicles and boats were flipped over. There was one injury as a gentleman looked outside to see the tornado and was struck by debris. Thirty people were displaced from their homes. Damage estimates were based on a survey completed by Cape Coral Emergency Management.
Down burst winds wrapping around a tornado three blocks to the east caused minor damage to several homes in the area around the intersection of Beach Parkway West and Agualinda Boulevard.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Florida, 2007Warnings in Florida, September 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: 49831, 49851, 49855.