Thunderstorms forming on the Florida east coast sea breeze produced wind gust damage in Brevard County.
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.
Thunderstorms forming on the Florida east coast sea breeze produced wind gust damage in Brevard County.
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 May 23, 8:00 PM EST, 2 hours 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 900 PM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008 .DISCUSSION... ...SCATTERED/NUMEROUS SHOWERS/STORMS SATURDAY THEN DRYING... CURRENTLY-TONIGHT...IMPULSE PULLING EAST OF THE AREA ALONG WITH MOST CONVECTION. OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES OVER LAND HAVE BEEN INITIATING SOME SMALLER AREAS OF CONVECTION WHERE POCKETS OF INSTABILITY LINGER. THIS ACTIVITY WILL DIMINISH BEFORE MIDNIGHT. WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS DRYING ALOFT WORKING IN BEHIND IMPULSE SO MID/HIGH CLOUDS WILL CLEAR OUT. NEXT UPSTREAM SHORTWAVE TROUGH SHOULD START TO SPREAD SOME MID/HIGH CLOUDS BACK ACROSS THE AREA LATE. WITH SOME RAIN WETTING AND A PERIOD OF MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES WILL HAVE TO WATCH FOR SOME LOW STRATUS OR FOG. THE GFS SHOWS 925 MB WESTERLY WINDS INCREASING TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTH. SOUTHERN AREAS SHOULD HAVE BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW LESS THAN 10 KNOTS...AND THE GREATEST RAIN WETTING OCCURRED THERE. PLAN TO PULL SMALL POPS FROM THE OVERNIGHT PART OF THE FORECAST AND PUT IN PATCHY FOG. SATURDAY (PREVIOUS DISCUSSION)...SHORTWAVE WILL PUSH OFF SE U.S. COAST WITH SURFACE LOW FORMATION OFF THE GA/SC COAST. WESTERLY WIND COMPONENT WILL PERSIST BUT WILL BEGIN TO SEE A SHIFT TO NORTHERLY COMPONENT LATE IN THE DAY WITH BACK DOOR FRONT REACHING THE NE FRINGES. MOISTURE WILL REMAIN DEEP SO SHOWER/STORM CHANCES WILL REMAIN ON THE HIGH SIDE. && .AVIATION...ISOLATED SHOWERS/LIGHTNING STORMS WILL DIMINISH BEFORE 04Z THEN EXPECT A PERIOD OF MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. THIS SHOULD ALLOW FOR SOME PATCHY FOG...EVEN THOUGH GFS AND LAMP MOS ARE NOT SHOWING ANY FOG OR LOW CEILINGS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE ONLY CALLING FOR 3-5SM BR...BUT WILL HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR LOWER VISIBILITIES...ESPECIALLY ACROSS SOUTH PARTS WHERE BOUNDARY LAYER WINDS WILL BE LIGHTER AND RAIN WETTING WAS THE GREATEST. EXPECT DAYTIME HEATING AND FRONTAL MOISTURE WILL IGNITE SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS/STORMS ON SAT AND EXPECT SOME WILL BECOME STRONG. && .MARINE...SOME QUITE STRONG STORMS PUSHED OFFSHORE THIS EVENING. ONE PRODUCED FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND MOVED OVER 41009...LUCKILY IT IS STILL TRANSMITTING DATA THERE ARE NO WIND/SEA CONCERNS THROUGH SAT WITH WEST WINDS AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS. THE WAVE WATCH IS SHOWING 1 FOOT SEAS AT 41009. THE MAIN CONCERN WILL BE STORMS MOVING OFFSHORE AHEAD OF FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT WILL DROP THROUGH SAT NIGHT. STORMS WILL BE MOVING SOUTHEAST AND SOME WILL PRODUCE STRONG WIND GUSTS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. && .FIRE WEATHER (PREVIOUS DISCUSSION)...HIGHER MOISTURE AND PRECIP CHANCES BEFORE FRONTAL PASSAGE WILL KEEP RH VALUES FROM REACHING CRITICAL THRESHOLDS THROUGH SAT. EVEN AFTER FRONT PUSHES THROUGH AND DRIER AIR MOVES IN...WINDS WILL QUICKLY BECOME NELY SUN/MON SO CRITICAL THRESHOLDS NOT ANTICIPATED BUT WILL WATCH TRENDS THROUGH SUBSEQUENT RUNS. && .MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...NONE. && SHORT TERM/AVIATION...LASCODY RADAR...VOLKMER
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 609 AM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008 AMZ550-552-555-570-572-575-FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141- 144-147-232200- 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- 609 AM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVING EAST ALONG THE GULF COAST WILL BRING INCREASED INSTABILITY TO CENTRAL FLORIDA TODAY. COMBINED WITH SOME MORE HEATING THAN YESTERDAY AND THE PRESENCE OF THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY...WE EXPECT A HIGH COVERAGE OF RAIN AND LIGHTNING STORMS TO DEVELOP NORTH OF ORLANDO LATER THIS AFTERNOON. MORE SCATTERED LIGHTNING STORMS ARE EXPECTED SOUTH OF ORLANDO. CONDITIONS WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR HEAVY RAIN AND DOWNBURST WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH. AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE. STORM MOVEMENT WILL BE TOWARD THE EAST AT 15 TO 20 MPH. ...MARINE THUNDERSTORM GUST IMPACT... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS LIGHTNING STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE OFFSHORE MAINLY FROM MID AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING. STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 35 KNOTS ON THE INTRACOASTAL AND NEAR SHORE ATLANTIC WATERS...MAINLY NORTH OF COCOA BEACH. ...FIRE WEATHER IMPACT... THERE EXISTS A FIRE DANGER FROM THE COMBINATION OF HIGH DROUGHT INDICES AND THE THREAT FOR CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES AND STRONG WIND GUSTS FROM THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. SCATTERED STORMS WILL BRING THE THREAT FOR CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS AGAIN SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THE RIP CURRENT RISK WILL INCREASE SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY AS LONG PERIOD SWELLS ARRIVE IN THE AREA. WINDS AND SEAS WILL INCREASE TO HAZARDOUS LEVELS SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO MONITOR THE WEATHER AND SELF ACTIVATE IF NEEDED. KELLY
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
602 PM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0552 PM HAIL PALM BAY 27.99N 80.66W
05/23/2008 M0.50 INCH BREVARD FL TRAINED SPOTTER
SKYWARN SPOTTER IN NE PALM BAY REPORTED MARBLE-SIZED
HAIL.
0554 PM HAIL PALM BAY 27.99N 80.66W
05/23/2008 M0.70 INCH BREVARD FL TRAINED SPOTTER
SKYWARN SPOTTER NEAR PORT MALABAR BLVD AND US 1 REPORTED
DIME-SIZED HAIL.
&&
JRCSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 606 PM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008 FLZ047-232215- SOUTHERN BREVARD COUNTY- 606 PM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING SOUTHEASTERN BREVARD COUNTY... AT 606 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG STORMS NEAR GRANT AND FLORIDANA BEACH...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES AND GUSTY WINDS TO 35 MPH. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL TEMPORARILY REDUCE VISIBILITY. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES. VERY HEAVY 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. MRV
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 916 PM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008 FLZ046-141-147-240145- COASTAL VOLUSIA COUNTY-NORTHERN BREVARD COUNTY-SEMINOLE- 916 PM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SEMINOLE COUNTY... AT 916 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER SEMINOLE COUNTY MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL AFFECT... LONGWOOD... SANFORD... LAKE JESSUP... WINTER SPRINGS... OVEIDO... AND GENEVA. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES AND GUSTY WINDS TO 45 MPH...WHICH MAY CAUSE UNSECURED OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL TEMPORARILY REDUCE VISIBILITY. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES. THIS STORM WILL ALSO BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING STRIKES...DEFINED AS 12 OR MORE CLOUD TO GROUND STRIKES PER MINUTE. SEEK SHELTER IN AN ENCLOSED BUILDING OR HARD TOPPED AUTOMOBILE. OPEN SHELTERS FOUND IN PARKS...ON BEACHES OR GOLF COURSES OFFER NO PROTECTION FROM THE DANGERS OF LIGHTNING. VERY HEAVY 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. 15
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
929 PM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0923 PM HAIL CASSELBERRY 28.66N 81.32W
05/23/2008 E0.50 INCH SEMINOLE FL TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
JRCSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 935 PM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008 FLZ046-240200- SEMINOLE- 935 PM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008 ...STORMS WITH EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING OVER SEMINOLE COUNTY... AT 935 PM EDT...LIGHTNING DETECTION EQUIPMENT AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A STORM WITH EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING OVER CENTRAL SEMINOLE COUNTY. THE STORM WAS MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING STRIKES...DEFINED AS 12 OR MORE CLOUD TO GROUND STRIKES PER MINUTE. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...TAKE SHELTER IN A BUILDING OR HARD TOPPED AUTOMOBILE. OPEN SHELTERS FOUND IN PARKS OFFER NO PROTECTION FROM THE DANGERS OF LIGHTNING. STAY AWAY FROM TREES. LIGHTNING IS THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER RELATED KILLER IN FLORIDA. BOATERS ON INLAND LAKES ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO THE DANGERS OF LIGHTNING. GET TO SAFE HARBOR AT THE FIRST SIGN OF A LIGHTNING STORM THEN SEEK SHELTER IN A BUILDING OR ENCLOSED VEHICLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL CAN ALSO 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. 15
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 1056 PM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008 FLZ147-240330- NORTHERN BREVARD COUNTY- 1056 PM EDT FRI MAY 23 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING NORTHERN BREVARD COUNTY... AT 1056 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG STORM NEAR PORT SAINT JOHN AND TITUSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STRONG STORM INCLUDE CANAVERAL GROVES...SHARPES...MERRITT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE...CAPE CANAVERAL AND COCOA BEACH. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL TEMPORARILY REDUCE VISIBILITY. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES. VERY HEAVY 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. 15
The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:14 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind of 66 knots was reported at a USAF weather tower at Cape Canaveral station.
Large trees were blown down blocking a road in Merritt Island.
Power lines were blown down blocking US Highway 1.
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, May 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: 102885, 102878, 102879.