A strong cold front moved through the area with a squall line preceeding it. Embedded thunderstorms within the line produced some severe gusty winds and caused some minor damage.
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 strong cold front moved through the area with a squall line preceeding it. Embedded thunderstorms within the line produced some severe gusty winds and caused some minor damage.
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 Nov 30, 9:56 AM EST, 1 hour 36 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
956 AM EST SUN NOV 30 2008
.UPDATE...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 939 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM ACROSS
PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL FL AND THE NEAR SHORE COASTAL WATERS.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 839 AM EST SUN NOV 30 2008/
..SOME BENEFICIAL RAIN AND STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE TODAY...
DISCUSSION...COLD FRONT ALONG FL/AL BORDER SOUTHWARD WITH AN
ADVANCE SQUALL LINE FROM PERRY SW OVER THE GULF AT 800 AM. THE CWA
IS STILL PARTLY CLOUDY FOR THE MOST PART WITH A FEW SHOWERS NEAR
FORT MYERS AND ROBUST SOUTH WINDS OVER THE ENTIRE AREA. THESE HAVE
PROMPTED A LAKE WIND ADVISORY TODAY. IN ADDITION THE OFFSHORE BUOY
IS REPORTING WAVES OF 10 FT. WILL ISSUE HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR THE
COAST THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON. LEADING EDGE OF SQUALL LINE
EXPECTED TO REACH LEVY COUNTY 11-NOON TODAY...IN LINE WITH
FORECASTS AND GRIDS...AND THEN CONTINUE DOWN THE CWA. WILL UPDATE
THE FORECASTS BY 900 AM BUT ONLY TO INCLUDE THE HIGH SURF.
AVIATION...GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS DEVELOPING THIS MORNING AHEAD OF
A RAPIDLY APPROACHING COLD FRONT. LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL PUSH ACROSS TERMINALS IN THE TAMPA AREA EARLY
TO MID AFTERNOON AND THE FORT MYERS TERMINALS LATE THIS AFTERNOON.
WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 KTS POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER STORMS.
PERIOD OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WITH MVFR CIGS/VSBYS WILL PERSIST
FOR A COUPLE HOURS AFTER THE LEADING LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS PUSHES
THROUGH. MVFR/VFR CIGS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE NIGHT.
MARINE...SOUTH WINDS EARLY MORNING WILL SHIFT TO SW DURING THE
DAY. WITH SPEEDS OF 20 KT OR HIGHER WITH SOME GUSTS TO GALE FORCE
ON THE GULF A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONTINUES. WINDS SHIFT TO WEST
AND REMAIN IN ADVISORY LEVELS TONIGHT AFTER THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH.
A BUOY BEYOND THE COAST WATERS HAS BEEN BEEN REPORTING WAVES OF 10
FEET AND THESE WILL BE MOVING INTO THE WATERS THIS AFTERNOON AND
PERSIST INTO MON. NEXT FORECAST OUT AROUND 10 AM WITH LITTLE CHANGE.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TPA 74 58 68 48 / 80 50 30 20
FMY 78 62 71 52 / 60 60 30 20
GIF 78 57 69 48 / 80 50 30 20
SRQ 74 59 68 48 / 80 50 30 20
BKV 72 51 66 41 / 80 50 30 20
SPG 75 60 69 53 / 80 50 30 20
&&
.TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR CHARLOTTE-
CITRUS-DE SOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-
LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-SARASOTA-SUMTER.
HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR CHARLOTTE-
CITRUS-HERNANDO-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-
PINELLAS-SARASOTA.
GULF WATERS...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EST MONDAY FOR BONITA BEACH TO
ENGLEWOOD OUT 20 NM-BONITA BEACH TO ENGLEWOOD OUT 20 TO 60
NM-ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON SPRINGS OUT 20 NM-ENGLEWOOD TO
TARPON SPRINGS OUT 20 TO 60 NM-TAMPA BAY WATERS-TARPON
SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER OUT 20 NM-TARPON SPRINGS TO
SUWANNEE RIVER OUT 20 TO 60 NM.
&&
SHORT TERM/MARINE....09/RUDE
LONG TERM/AVIATION...13/OGLESBYHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 434 AM EST SUN NOV 30 2008 FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-301530- LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK- MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE- 434 AM EST SUN NOV 30 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. ...STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE TODAY... .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES EARLY THIS MORNING WILL MOVE UP ALONG THE MID ATLANTIC COAST TONIGHT AND MONDAY. A TRAILING COLD FRONT FROM THIS STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE EASTERN GULF WATERS LATER THIS MORNING THEN ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL INCREASE CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE REGION. INCREASING LOW AND MID LEVEL WIND FIELDS ALONG WITH HIGH DEEP LAYERED SHEAR VALUES AHEAD OF THE FRONT SUGGEST THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS...ISOLATED TORNADOES...AND MARINE WATERSPOUTS ACROSS THE REGION TODAY. STORMS WILL RACE TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST AT 40 TO 50 MPH TODAY AND WILL ALSO BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS AND OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING STRIKES. RESIDENT AND VISITORS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SHOULD KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY TODAY. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR LOCATION...MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. ...WIND AND SEA IMPACT... SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE INTO THE 20 TO 25 KNOT RANGE WITH GUSTS TO GALE UP TO FORCE OVER THE ADJACENT GULF WATERS TODAY THROUGH MONDAY. THESE INCREASING WINDS WILL HELP TO BUILD SEAS WHICH WILL BRING HAZARDOUS BOATING AND SURF CONDITIONS TO ALL OF THE GULF WATERS INCLUDING TAMPA BAY THROUGH MONDAY AS A STRONG COLD FRONT SWEEPS THROUGH THE REGION AND SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR ALL WATERS THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. FISHERMEN AND OTHER SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS MAY WANT TO POSTPONE TRIPS INTO THE GULF TODAY THROUGH MONDAY UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE TUESDAY. ...COASTAL FLOOD IMPACT... INCREASING SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT WILL HELP TO BUILDS SEAS OVER THE ADJACENT GULF WATERS TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE INCREASING WINDS AND SEAS WILL CAUSE TIDES TO RUN SOME 2 TO 3 FEET ABOVE NORMAL FROM SAINT PETERSBURG BEACH NORTH TO CEDAR KEY WHICH MAY CAUSE SOME MINOR COASTAL FLOODING...OVERWASH...AND MINOR BEACH EROSION AT TIMES OF HIGH TIDE TODAY AND TONIGHT. IN ADDITION THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AND STRONG UNDERTOWS AND LARGE BREAKING WAVE ACTION WILL ALSO BE ON THE INCREASE. RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG THE COAST SHOULD MONITOR WATER LEVELS TODAY AND TONIGHT AND BE READY TO MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND SHOULD FLOODING BE OBSERVED. ...RIP CURRENT IMPACT... AS THE SEAS BUILD OVER THE GULF WATERS TODAY LARGE BREAKING WAVE ACTION WILL DEVELOP ALONG AREA BEACHES WITH INCREASING RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AND STRONG UNDERTOWS. RESIDENT AND VISITORS PLANNING TO VISIT THE BEACH SHOULD HEED THE ADVISE OF THE BEACH PATROL. DO NOT SWIM AT UNGUARDED BEACHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. ...WIND AND SEA IMPACT... WEST WINDS IN THE WAKE OF A COLD FRONT WILL REMAIN IN THE 20 TO 25 KNOT RANGE WITH GUSTS TO GALE UP TO FORCE OVER THE ADJACENT GULF WATERS ON MONDAY. THESE STRONG WINDS WILL KEEP SEAS QUITE ELEVATED WITH SEAS OF 6 TO 8 FEET NEAR SHORE AND 9 TO 11 FEET OFFSHORE. THESE STRONG WINDS AND HIGH SEAS WILL PRODUCE HAZARDOUS BOATING CONDITIONS AND FISHERMEN AND OTHER SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS MAY WANT TO POSTPONE TRIPS INTO THE GULF UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE ON TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER AND SELF ACTIVATE IF NEEDED. MCMICHAEL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 959 AM EST SUN NOV 30 2008 FLZ039-301600- LEVY- 959 AM EST SUN NOV 30 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT LEVY COUNTY... ...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING WESTERN LEVY COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CHIEFLAND...CEDAR KEY...BRONSON AND WILLISTON...UNTIL 1100 AM EST. GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH MAY CAUSE LOOSE OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND WIRES IS POSSIBLE. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. TO BE SAFE GO INDOORS IMMEDIATELY IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...CROUCH DOWN IN A LOW SPOT...AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. EO
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 1124 AM EST SUN NOV 30 2008 FLZ039-042-043-048>051-301730- SUMTER-PINELLAS-HERNANDO-HILLSBOROUGH-CITRUS-LEVY-PASCO- 1124 AM EST SUN NOV 30 2008 ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM... ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM WILLISTON TO 60 MILES WEST OF EGMONT KEY...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CRYSTAL RIVER... HOMOSASSA SPRINGS...BEVERLY HILLS AND SPRING HILL...UNTIL 1230 PM EST. GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH MAY CAUSE LOOSE OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND WIRES IS POSSIBLE. EO
The Tampa radar (KTBW), 152 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:32 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and powerlines were downed by wind north of Crackertown.
A few trees and powerlines were downed by wind and there was minor damage to three homes.
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, November 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: 139484, 139485.