High pressure in place southern Florida kept southwest winds across the area with deep moisture continuing across the area. This allowed for very heavy rain with numerous thunderstorms.
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.
High pressure in place southern Florida kept southwest winds across the area with deep moisture continuing across the area. This allowed for very heavy rain with numerous thunderstorms.
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 18, 12:25 PM EST, 1 hour 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 125 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008 ...DRIER AND WARMER INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH HEAT INDEX OF 100 TO 105... SURFACE LOW OFF GEORGIA COAST WITH NARROW CONVERGENT BANDS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED THROUGH DAYTONA BEACH AND THROUGH THE TAMPA BAY AREA. ANOTHER BAND WAS IN SOUTH FLORIDA. .SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT - SUNDAY)...WILL KEEP ISOLATED PRECIP 00-02Z IN INTERIOR COUNTIES AND CEDAR KEY AREA. OTHERWISE...EAST TO WEST HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE TO BI-SECT THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH THE WEEKEND. FORECAST SOUNDING SHOWS PRECIP WATER AROUND 1.6 INCHES AND LIFTED OF -4C ACROSS AREA THIS WEEKEND. LIGHT WINDS AND LACK OF FORCING MECHANISMS WILL LIMIT PRECIP...BUT IT IS SUMMER IN FLORIDA SO WILL CONTINUE 30 PERCENT (NORMAL IS 40-50 PERCENT) OF MAINLY AFTERNOON STORMS. IT WILL BE HOT WITH AN AFTERNOON HEAT INDEX OF 100 TO 105. .LONG TERM (SUNDAY NIGHT - FRIDAY)...LITTLE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS FORECAST PHILOSOPHY DURING THIS TIME FRAME. THE PERIOD WILL START OFF WITH TWO POSSIBLE TROPICAL SYSTEMS ONE LIFTING NORTHEAST OFF THE CAROLINAS AND ANOTHER MOVING WEST NORTHWEST THROUGH THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN AND INTO THE SOUTHWESTERN GULF. CLOSER TO HOME WEAK MID LEVEL RIDGING AND SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL PERSIST OVER THE CENTRAL PENINSULA. SIMILAR TO THE LAST FEW DAYS MODELS SHOW DRIER AIR WORKING ITS WAY INTO THE FORECAST AREA SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY WITH PWS FALLING INTO THE 1.4-1.6 INCH RANGE. THIS DRIER AIR COMBINED WITH A SUBTLE INCREASE IN SUBSIDENCE ALOFT SHOULD LIMIT DIURNAL CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY WITH BELOW NORMAL RAIN (POPS 20%) CHANCES EXPECTED. DURING WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THE MID LEVEL RIDGE WILL WEAKEN SOME AS IT SHIFTS EAST AS WEAK MID LEVEL TROUGHING MOVES ACROSS THE REGION FROM THE SOUTHEAST WHILE THE SURFACE RIDGE AXIS DRIFTS NORTH TO THE NORTH-CENTRAL PENINSULA. INCREASING MOISTURE (PWS INCREASING BACK INTO THE 1.8 TO 2 RANGE) WITHIN A WEAK SOUTHEAST WIND FLOW COMBINED WITH THE MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL ALL HELP TO INCREASE CHANCES FOR SCATTERED DIURNAL SHOWERS AND STORMS ALONG THE SEA BREEZE CIRCULATIONS (POPS 30% ON WEDNESDAY THEN INCREASING TO 40% THURSDAY AND FRIDAY) ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA EACH DAY...DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. LESS CLOUD COVER AND LOWER RAIN CHANCES AT THE START OF THE PERIOD WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO RUN A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL BEFORE RETURNING TO NEAR NORMAL MID TO LATE WEEK AS RAIN CHANCES ONCE AGAIN INCREASE ACROSS THE REGION. && .AVIATION...MVRF/IFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES MAY BRIEFLY IMPACT TAMPA...SAINT PETERSBURG AND SARASOTA TERMINALS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE MOST OF THE CONVECTION PUSHES FURTHER INLAND. SOME BRIEF MVFR/ IFR CIGS/VSBYS MAY ALSO AFFECT FORT MYERS AND REGIONAL SOUTHWEST TERMINALS DURING MID TO LATE AFTERNOON OTHERWISE VCTS SHOULD HANDLE THINGS. AFTER THE CONVECTION WINDS LATER THIS EVENING VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AT ALL SITES OVERNIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. && .MARINE...WINDS 10 KNOTS OR LESS WITH WAVES 2 FEET OR LESS THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && .FIRE WEATHER...NO PROBLEMS EXPECTED AS THE HUMIDITY REMAINS ABOUT 40 PERCENT THROUGH NEXT WEEK. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 77 93 77 94 / 10 30 5 20 FMY 75 95 74 94 / 10 30 5 30 GIF 75 95 75 95 / 20 30 5 30 SRQ 75 92 75 92 / 10 30 5 20 BKV 71 93 71 94 / 10 30 5 20 SPG 80 92 80 93 / 10 30 5 20 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. GULF WATERS...NONE. && SHORT TERM/MARINE...NOAH LONG TERM/AVIATION...JCM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 438 AM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008 FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-181430- LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK- MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE- 438 AM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AND AFFECT AREAS MAINLY EAST OF I-75 TODAY. WARM AIR ALOFT SHOULD HELP TO KEEP STORMS BELOW SEVERE LIMITS...BUT SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS COULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY VERY HEAVY RAINS, GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... DRIER AIR WILL LIMIT THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE TO 20 TO 30 PERCENT FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS...THEN MOISTURE WILL RETURN WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WITH 30 TO 40 PERCENT THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE. NO ORGANIZED SEVERE THREAT IS INDICATED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY. JILLSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 152 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008 FLZ052-181830- POLK- 152 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHEAST POLK COUNTY... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH OVER NORTHERN POLK COUNTY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT GIBSONIA AND POLK CITY AS WELL AS RURAL NORTHEAST PORTIONS OF POLK COUNTY...UNTIL 230 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS...AND MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. JCM
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 223 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008 FLZ052-181915- POLK- 223 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO AFFECT NORTH POLK COUNTY... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES A THUNDERSTORM... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 16 MPH...WILL AFFECT GIBSONIA AND POLK CITY...UNTIL 315 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. THIS STORM MAY ALSO PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL. && 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 IN YOUR VEHICLE 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 RJS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 259 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008 FLZ051-181930- HILLSBOROUGH- 259 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008 ...FUNNEL CLOUDS ARE POSSIBLE IN WEST-CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY... AT 259 PM EDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD 2 MILES SOUTH OF TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SHOWING LITTLE MOVEMENT. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THE STORM MOVING NORTHEAST AT 3 MPH. FURTHER REPORTS INDICATE THE INITIAL FUNNEL CLOUD HAS NOW DISSIPATED. FUNNEL CLOUDS MAY BE POSSIBLE NEAR... TAMPA. TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WEST PARK. EVEN THROUGH THE FUNNEL HAS DISSIPATED THE STORM THAT PRODUCED THE FUNNEL REMAINS STRONG...AND A FUNNEL MAY REFORM. FUNNEL CLOUDS CAN BECOME BRIEF...SMALL...BUT DANGEROUS TORNADOES. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY...AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. && LAT...LON 2807 8253 2798 8233 2792 8248 2794 8256 TIME...MOT...LOC 1859Z 207DEG 3KT 2795 8250 CANTIN
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
The public reported that heavy rain was causing minor street flooding in the area about two miles north of the Memorial Hospital in Tampa.
Heavy rain caused major street flooding near the intersection of West Platt Street and South Fremont Avenue in Tampa. Numerous cars were stranded and the water was up to car doors.
Law enforcement reported street flooding along Milwaukee Boulevard near Grant Boulevard and Bell Boulevard.
Law enforcement reported street flooding at the intersection of Corkscrew Road and 3 Oaks Parkway in San Carlos Park.
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, July 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: 127055, 127059, 127066, 127069.