A persistent surface trough was in place to the north of the area with an upper trough in place over the area. Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed each day in the very moist and unstable environment.
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 persistent surface trough was in place to the north of the area with an upper trough in place over the area. Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed each day in the very moist and unstable environment. Long durations of heavy rainfall accumulations caused some flooding and strong gusty winds with storms 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 Aug 25, 12:29 PM EST, 3 hours 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
129 PM EDT WED AUG 25 2010
.SYNOPSIS...AT MID AND UPPER LEVELS - RIDGING OVER THE SW DESERTS IS
BUILDING NORTH TOWARD CANADA...A LOW OVER HUDSON BAY IS TROUGHING
ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES - A SECOND TROUGH CENTERED ALOFT THE
MID-ATLANTIC STATES REACHES DOWN TO FL - AND A RIDGE OVER THE
OPEN ATLANTIC NOSES IN ACROSS EASTERN CUBA. MEANWHILE AT THE
SURFACE - HIGH PRESSURE SPRAWLS FROM THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES TO
NORTH-CENTRAL MEXICO - A RATHER ROBUST COLD FRONT STRETCHES FROM
THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY TO JAMES BAY - A FRONTAL BOUNDARY/TROUGH
WITH A COUPLE OF WEAK LOW PRESSURE AREAS ON IT RESIDES ACROSS
THE NORTHERN GULF AND SE U.S. - AND ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE RIDGES
IN OVER SOUTHERN FL.
&&
.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT - FRIDAY)...
FOR TONIGHT THROUGH THU - EAST COAST TROUGH LIFTS OUT TO THE NE
AS THE HUDSON BAY TROUGH DROPS IN OVER THE EASTERN U.S. HOWEVER...
THIS MAKES LIMITED SOUTHWARD PROGRESS AS THE ATLANTIC RIDGE LIFTS
ACROSS CUBA AND OVER SOUTHERN FL...ALLOWING THE SURFACE RIDGE TO
BEGIN TO ALSO MOVE NORTH WITH THE GULF FRONTAL BOUNDARY/TROUGH
SHIFTING BEYOND THE AREA BUT LEAVING ENOUGH MOISTURE AND REMNANT
UPPER ENERGY FOR NUMEROUS POPS.
THU NIGHT AND FRI - THE DEEP LAYER RIDGING LIFTS OUT OF SOUTHERN
FL AND INTO CENTRAL FL WITH SOME DRYING OF THE ATMOSPHERE ALTHOUGH
WITH RESIDUAL MOISTURE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT SCATTERED POPS.
TEMPERATURES WILL RUN AROUND NORMAL FOR LOWS THROUGH THE PERIOD.
HIGHS THU WILL STAY BELOW NORMAL THANKS TO CLOUDS AND RAINFALL BUT
THEN INCREASE TO AROUND NORMAL FRI AS SOME CLEARING WORKS IN.
.LONG TERM (FRIDAY NIGHT-WEDNESDAY)...
LITTLE CHANGE IN THE FORECAST FOR THE LONG TERM PERIOD. MID/UPPER
LEVEL RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER THE EASTERN U.S. OVER THE WEEKEND AND
INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...BUT MODELS ARE STILL KEEPING SOME TROUGHING
HANGING BACK SOUTHWEST ACROSS FLORIDA EARLY NEXT WEEK. MEANWHILE AT
THE SURFACE ANOTHER COOL FRONT WILL WEAKEN AND GRADUALLY DISSIPATE
OVER NORTH FLORIDA OVER THE WEEKEND WITH A LARGE AREA OF HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDING DOWN THE U.S. EAST COAST OVER THE WEEKEND AND INTO
EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE DETAILS OF THE FORECAST REMAIN UNCERTAIN SO FOR
NOW HAVE LEFT THE SCATTERED RAIN CHANCES IN THE FORECAST FOR EACH
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WITH THE FLOW INCREASING OUT OF THE EAST OVER
THE WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK THE WEST COAST SEA BREEZE WILL
STRUGGLE TO MOVE INLAND AND THEREFORE BEST CHANCES OF RAIN WILL BE
NEAR THE COAST. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN NEAR TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE
NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD.
&&
.AVIATION...
SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY WITH MORE CONVECTION
EXPECTED TO DEVELOP LATER TONIGHT ESPECIALLY FROM THE TAMPA BAY AREA
NORTH. SOME MVFR/LOCAL IFR CONDITIONS ALONG WITH GUSTY WINDS UP TO
25 KNOTS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...
OTHERWISE MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OUTSIDE OF THE
CONVECTION.
&&
.MARINE...
A MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES ALONG WITH SOME
COASTAL FLOODING ACROSS LEVY/CITRUS COASTS WILL CONTINUE IN A
MODERATE ONSHORE FLOW THIS AFTERNOON. SW WINDS CONTINUE OVERNIGHT
ACROSS NORTHERN WATERS BUT WITH DIMINISHING SPEEDS.
HIGH PRESSURE RIDGING ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA SLOWLY LIFT NORTH THU
NIGHT...REACHING CENTRAL FL FRI AND THEN RESIDING THERE INTO
EARLY NEXT WEEK. THIS RIDGE IS REINFORCED FROM THE NORTH OVER THE
WEEKEND WITH NE WINDS IN THE 15 TO 20 KT RANGE.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
NO CONCERNS.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TPA 77 89 77 90 / 40 70 30 50
FMY 75 90 76 91 / 40 70 30 50
GIF 75 90 75 91 / 40 70 30 50
SRQ 76 89 76 91 / 40 70 30 50
BKV 73 89 73 91 / 30 70 30 50
SPG 78 89 79 90 / 40 70 30 50
&&
.TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR CITRUS-
LEVY.
GULF WATERS...NONE.
&&
SHORT TERM/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...09/RUDE
LONG TERM/AVIATION...69/CLOSEHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 519 AM EDT WED AUG 25 2010 FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-251600- LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK- MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE- 519 AM EDT WED AUG 25 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA TODAY AND TONIGHT WITH A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE REMAINING ACROSS NORTH FLORIDA AND AN UPPER TROUGH IN PLACE OVER THE REGION. THE MAIN HAZARDS WITH THE STORMS WILL BE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAINFALL CAUSING MINOR FLOODING OF ROADWAYS AND SMALL STREAMS AND REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO ONE TO TWO MILES WHILE DRIVING. ...COASTAL FLOOD IMPACT... MODERATE AND GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH HIGH TIDES WILL PUSH WATER ONSHORE ALONG COASTAL LOCATIONS OF LEVY AND CITRUS COUNTIES AND CAUSE MINOR FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS THROUGH THIS EVENING. DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOOD WATERS. ...RIP CURRENT IMPACT... CONTINUED MODERATE ONSHORE WINDS WILL ALLOW FOR A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS TODAY AT AREA BEACHES. TO AVOID GETTING CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM AT GUARDED BEACHES AND HEED THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH PATROL. AT UNGUARDED BEACHES AND NEAR PIERS...JETTIES...AND INLETS...DO NOT GO INTO THE SURF MUCH ABOVE YOUR KNEES. ...RIVER FLOOD IMPACT... SEVERAL DAYS OF HEAVY RAINS ACROSS THE AREA HAVE CAUSED WATER LEVELS TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE AT THE MANATEE RIVER NEAR MYAKKA HEAD. WATER LEVELS SHOULD REMAIN ABOVE FLOOD STAGE THIS MORNING AND THEN SUBSIDE BELOW FLOOD STAGE LATER TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED EACH AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALONG SEA BREEZE BOUNDARIES FOR THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE RIDGES ACROSS THE AREA. STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINS WILL BE THE MAIN HAZARDS WITH THE STORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER AND SELF ACTIVATE IF NEEDED. COLSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
256 PM EDT WED AUG 25 2010
FLZ052-056-057-061-251945-
DE SOTO-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-POLK-
256 PM EDT WED AUG 25 2010
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN POLK...HIGHLANDS...
SOUTHEASTERN HARDEE AND EASTERN DESOTO COUNTIES...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM AVON PARK TO 22
MILES WEST OF PLACID LAKES...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM AVON PARK
TO 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ARCADIA...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH...WILL AFFECT
AVON PARK...SEBRING...LAKE PLACID AND VENUS...UNTIL 345 PM EDT.
GUSTY WINDS 35 TO 45 MPH WILL OCCUR. FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED.
TO BE SAFE GO INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...FIND A LOW
SPOT...AND STAY AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL REDUCE
VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AND WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
RAINFALL OF UP TO 2 INCHES IS POSSIBLE IN THESE STORMS.
&&
LAT...LON 2705 8128 2704 8189 2771 8151 2767 8114
2760 8114 2754 8120 2749 8120 2747 8116
2745 8114 2742 8114 2741 8112
TIME...MOT...LOC 1856Z 276DEG 19KT 2762 8145 2716 8173
JOHNSONThe Tampa radar (KTBW), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:00 UTC.
4 heavy rain, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Two eastbound lanes of State Road 70 were closed near the intersection of Lockwood Ridge Road due to street flooding from heavy rains.
Highway 40W was closed near the intersection of 51st Street due to street flooding from heavy rains.
Water was covering State Road 24 near Rosewood due to heavy rains.
There was damage to two lanais on southeast 40th Terrace.
There were several streets that were closed due to street flooding from heavy rains in the Orange Blossom Estates area southwest of Sebring. Based off of radar, an estimated three to five inches of rain fell across that area. Portions of Lily Street, Maxanna Boulevard and Apple Road had closures.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, August 2010
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: 256243, 256250, 256256, 256262, 256710.