A pre-frontal squall line produced widespread wind damage and hail across 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 MLB wrote it up.
A pre-frontal squall line produced widespread wind damage and hail across 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 Melbourne, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 5, 1:15 PM EST, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
215 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008
.DISCUSSION...
THRU TONIGHT...SHOWERS AND STORMS DEVELOPING OVER WC FL QUICKLY
REACHING INTERIOR SECTIONS. A FEW STRONG/SVR STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE
INTO THIS EVENING...ESP AS THE ACTIVITY REACHES THE EAST COAST AND
COLLIDES WITH THE SEA BREEZE WHICH IS SHOWING UP ON 88D AND SFC
OBS FROM AROUND THE CAPE SOUTHWARD. HAVE SCT POPS IN WITH MENTION
OF STRONG GUSTS/HEAVY DOWNPOURS TONIGHT. AFTER THIS BAND OF
ACTIVITY PUSHES OFFSHORE THIS EVENING...STILL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH
WHAT IS PRESENTLY A WELL DEVELOPED SQUALL LINE OVER THE GULF. AS
THE SHORTWAVE LIFTS AND DAMPENS SOME THE LINE SHOULD BECOME A
LESS ORGANIZED FEATURE AS IT REACHES EC FL LATER IN THE NIGHT...
BUT WORTH KEEPING THE THUNDER MENTION IN THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT.
SUNDAY...THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL SAG OVER THE NORTHERN PENINSULA
WHILE BACK SIDE OF RIDGE AXIS TO THE SOUTH OF EC FL WILL HELP
ADVECT IN MOISTURE IN SWLY WINDS. WITH THE SAGGING BOUNDARY TO
THE NORTH...DEEPENING MOISTURE AND A WEAK DISTURBANCE ALOFT...
SHOULD HAVE A HIGH COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS AND HAVE LIKELY
POPS ALL AREAS. TEMPS SHOULD BE ABLE TO REACH INTO THE MID 80S
EXCEPT IN LOCATIONS WHERE PRECIP ONSET OCCURS TOO EARLY IN THE
DAY. SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW WILL AGAIN PUSH ACTIVITY TOWARD THE EAST
COAST.
SUN NIGHT-MON...SCT STORMS EXPECTED TO LINGER WELL INTO THE
EVENING SUN NIGHT AS AN UPR DISTURBANCE MOVING ACROSS PENINSULA
FROM THE GULF REGION PROVIDES ADTL SUPPORT FOR ACTIVITY WELL PAST
NIGHTFALL. H7 STEERING WINDS ALSO FAVORS THE EAST COAST FOR
PROGRESSION OF EVENING ACTIVITY AND WL KEEP THUNDER MENTION PAST
MIDNIGHT AREA WIDE. GFS REMAINS MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN NAM
CONCERNING DRYING TREND MONDAY AND SOME SFC GENESIS IS DEPICTED
BY GFS/ECMWF ALONG FRONTAL BOUNDARY NEAR THE STATE DURING DAY.
AND PRESENCE OF H5 ENERGY RIPPLES REMAIN HOWEVER IN BROAD
CYCLONIC FLOW OVER SE STATES AND AM HESITANT TO LOWER POPS LESS
THAN A SCT COVERAGE ATTM.
TUE-THU...RIDGE OVER THE US NORTHEAST SEABOARD FORECAST TO WORK
INTO THE AREA WITH COINCIDENT DRYING TREND THROUGH MIDWEEK.
ONSHORE FLOW INITIALLY NORTHEAST WILL STEADILY VEER TO SE
COMPONENT LATE THU/FRI. RAIN CHCS WL REMAIN ON THE LOW SIDE WITH
HIGH PRESSURE THE MAIN FEATURE THROUGH LATE IN THE WEEK.
EXTENDED...UPR RIDGE OVER THE SE AND GULF REGION TO SLOWLY BREAK
TOWARD THE WEEKEND WITH AN APCHG FRONT NOT SHOWING SIGNS OF
STRENGTH AS IT CROSS INTO N FL LATE SATURDAY. FORECAST BACK TO
WARM AND DRY PATTERN LATE IN THE WEEK WITH SLIGHT RAIN CHC SUNDAY.
&&
.AVIATION...INCREASING CIG/VSBY REDUCTIONS IN SHRA/TSRA INTO THIS EVENING.
A FEW STORMS MAY ALSO CONTAIN SFC WIND GUSTS AOA 35KT. SOME ADDITIONAL
REDUCTIONS AFT 04Z WITH SHRA AND A FEW TSRA MOVING ONSHORE FROM THE
GULF LATE.
&&
.MARINE...MAIN CONCERN FOR BOATERS NEAR THE EAST COAST WILL BE
STORMS MOVING OFFSHORE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING...A FEW OF THESE
STORMS MAY CONTAIN WIND GUSTS ABOVE 34 KT AND POSSIBLY A WATERSPOUT.
SCA/SCEC CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH LATE TONIGHT OFFSHORE
LEGS AND NO CHANGES TO HEADLINES. SHOWERS AND STORMS MOVING
OFFSHORE FROM THE MAINLAND AGAIN ON SUNDAY. MAIN HAZARD SUN NIGHT
WILL BE LOCALLY STRONG STORMS MOVING OFFSHORE INTO EARLY MON. A
LOW PRESSURE AREA IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP OFFSHORE THE NE FLORIDA
COAST AND MOVE QUICKLY AWAY FROM THE MARINE AREA ON MONDAY.
BRIEFLY HIGHER WINDS AND SEAS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS FEATURE. HIGH
PRESSURE TO BUILD OVER THE WATERS TUESDAY THROUGH MIDWEEK.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DAB 67 83 66 77 / 50 60 50 40
MCO 68 83 68 81 / 40 60 50 40
MLB 70 82 68 81 / 40 60 50 40
VRB 70 83 69 85 / 40 60 50 40
&&
.MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR WATERS FROM
FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE 20 TO 60 NM
OFFSHORE-WATERS FROM VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO
SEBASTIAN INLET 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE.
&&
SHORT TERM...GLITTO
LONG TERM....PENDERGRASTHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 1102 AM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 AMZ550-552-555-570-572-575-FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141- 144-147-052200- COASTAL WATERS FROM FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE- WATERS FROM VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE- WATERS FROM SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE- INLAND VOLUSIA-NORTHERN LAKE-ORANGE-SEMINOLE-SOUTHERN BREVARD- OSCEOLA-INDIAN RIVER-OKEECHOBEE-ST. LUCIE-MARTIN-COASTAL VOLUSIA- SOUTHERN LAKE-NORTHERN BREVARD- 1102 AM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... SCATTERED LIGHTNING STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP MID TO LATE AFTERNOON AND MOVE AT 20 TO 25 MPH TOWARD THE EAST COAST INTO THIS EVENING. A FEW OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG AND PRODUCE FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES...STRONG WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH AND HAIL UP TO COIN SIZE. THERE IS ALSO A LOW THREAT FOR DAMAGING WINDS NEAR 60 MPH OR A BRIEF TORNADO AS STORMS APPROACH THE EAST COAST AND WIND SHEAR IS ENHANCED BY THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE. ...FLOOD IMPACT... A FEW STRONG STORMS MAY PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS TOTALING 2 TO 3 INCHES LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING...CAUSING TEMPORARY FLOODING OF URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. ...RIP CURRENT IMPACT... A PERSISTENT LONG PERIOD OCEAN SWELL WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES. ASK A LIFEGUARD ABOUT OCEAN HAZARDS WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE BEACH AND DO NOT SWIM ALONE. ...MARINE THUNDERSTORM GUST IMPACT... A FEW STRONG STORMS WITH WIND GUSTS GREATER THAN 34 KNOTS MAY CROSS THE INTRACOASTAL WATERS...THE BARRIER ISLANDS AND INTO THE NEARSHORE ATLANTIC WATERS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING... MAINLY NORTH OF SEBASTIAN INLET. ...WATERSPOUT IMPACT... AS STORMS APPROACH THE EAST COAST...DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW WATERSPOUTS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE INTRACOASTAL AND NEAR SHORE WATERS. ...WIND AND SEA IMPACT... SOUTH WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 KNOTS TODAY OVER THE OFFSHORE WATERS OF VOLUSIA AND BREVARD COUNTIES WITH SEAS BUILDING UP TO 7 FEET. CLOSER TO SHORE...SOUTH WINDS OF 15 TO 20 KNOTS CAN BE EXPECTED AND SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. A HIGHER COVERAGE OF RAIN AND STORMS IS EXPECTED SUNDAY WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO MONITOR THE WEATHER AND SELF ACTIVATE IF NEEDED. KELLY/GLITTO
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 322 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 FLZ045-046-053-052000- ORANGE-OSCEOLA-SEMINOLE- 322 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN ORANGE AND NORTHERN OSCEOLA COUNTTY WILL MOVE INTO SEMINOLE COUNTY THROUGH 400 PM... AT 314 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG STORMS FROM WINDERMERE TO WEST LAKE TOHO...MOVING NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STRONG STORM INCLUDE THE ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...DOWNTOWN ORLANDO...PINE CASTLE...MAITLAND ...CASSELBERRY...AND UNION PARK. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES AND GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 45 MPH...WHICH MAY CAUSE UNSECURED OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL TEMPORARILY REDUCE VISIBILITY. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES. A BRIEF PERIOD OF SMALL HAIL...PEA TO DIME SIZE...WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE IN LOCALIZED AREAS. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED...CAUSING TEMPORARY PONDING ON SOME ROADS AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN IN HEAVY RAINFALL TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HYDROPLANING AND LEAVE SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN OTHER VEHICLES. CRISTALDI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 408 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 FLZ053-052100- OSCEOLA- 408 PM EDT SAT APR 5 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING CENTRAL OSCEOLA COUNTY... AT 405 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG STORM OVER LAKE KISSIMMEE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STRONG STORM INCLUDE HARMONY. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES AND GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 45 MPH...WHICH MAY CAUSE UNSECURED OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL TEMPORARILY REDUCE VISIBILITY. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES. A BRIEF PERIOD OF SMALL HAIL...PEA TO DIME SIZE...WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE IN LOCALIZED AREAS. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED...CAUSING TEMPORARY PONDING ON SOME ROADS AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN IN HEAVY RAINFALL TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HYDROPLANING AND LEAVE SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN OTHER VEHICLES. WEITLICH
The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:52 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines in Edgewater.
Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines in New Smyrna Beach.
Thunderstorm winds blew down trees blocking the road on Monument Drive in Kissimmee.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, April 2008
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: 97695, 97696, 97698.