A warm and moist environment allowed scattered afternoon thunderstorms to develop in the westerly flow. One thunderstorm produced a severe wind gust.
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 warm and moist environment allowed scattered afternoon thunderstorms to develop in the westerly flow. One thunderstorm produced a severe wind gust.
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 13, 12:40 PM EST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 140 PM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011 .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)...MID LEVEL SYNOPTIC PATTERN WILL GRADUALLY TRANSITION FROM WEAK AND BROAD RIDGING TOWARDS MORE AMPLIFIED TROUGHING BY MONDAY. AT THE SURFACE...A WEAK SURFACE BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO PUSH THROUGH THE SE US THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. HAVE MAINTAINED SCATTERED AFTERNOON STORMS EACH DAY AS THE SEA BREEZE DEVELOPS. GFS AND NAM ARE IN A DISAGREEMENT WITH POPS WITH NAM MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE. GIVEN THAT A MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL SLIDE OVER THE REGION BY MONDAY WITH A SURFACE BOUNDARY DROPPING IN FROM THE NORTH...THERE SHOULD BE FAVORABLE DYNAMICS FOR AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP. MAIN QUESTION RIGHT NOW IS THE TIMING OF A SLIGHTLY DRIER AIR MASS DROPPING ALONG THE SURFACE BOUNDARY BY MONDAY AFTERNOON. WILL STICK WITH THE 40/50 POPS DURING THE AFTERNOON ACROSS THE REGION FOR THE AFTERNOON PACKAGE. TEMPS WILL REMAIN FAIRLY CONSISTENT THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 90S AND LOW IN THE MID 70S TO AROUND 80. .LONG TERM (MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY)...THE TROUGH ALONG THE EAST COAST MONDAY NIGHT WILL SHIFT OUT INTO THE ATLANTIC DURING MIDWEEK WITH SOME RIDGING BUILDING IN FROM THE WEST. HOWEVER...DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK ANOTHER TROUGH WILL DEVELOP OVER THE EASTERN U.S. DOWN INTO FLORIDA. MEANWHILE AT THE SURFACE...THE RIDGE AXIS WILL START OUT SOUTH OF THE REGION WITH A WESTERLY FLOW ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY LEADING TO ISOLATED CONVECTION NEAR THE COAST IN THE MORNING MOVING INLAND AND BECOMING SCATTERED DURING THE AFTERNOON. THEN DURING MIDWEEK THE RIDGE AXIS WILL DRIFT NORTH WITH A MORE EAST TO SOUTHEAST FLOW SETTING UP BEFORE THE NEXT WEAKENING COLD FRONT MOVES INTO THE SOUTHEAST U.S. SUPPRESSING THE RIDGE BACK SOUTH INTO CENTRAL FLORIDA FRIDAY. PLENTY OF MOISTURE WILL BE ACROSS THE AREA WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WITH SCATTERED MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING CONVECTION EACH DAY. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN NEAR TO A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL WITH HIGHS FROM NEAR 90 ALONG THE COAST TO THE MID 90S INLAND...AND OVERNIGHT LOWS MOSTLY IN THE 70S. && .AVIATION...MOSTLY VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON AT TPA/PIE/SRQ...THOUGH ISOLATED STORMS MAY BRIEFLY DEGRADE CONDITIONS. BETTER LOW LEVEL MOISTURE OVER FMY AND RSW WILL CREATE HIGHER THUNDERSTORM CHANCES FOR THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON THAN AREAS FARTHER NORTH. FOR NOW...HANDLED STORM CHANCES WITH VCTS AT ALL SITES THROUGH 00Z AND TEMPO GROUPS AT FMY AND RSW TO ALLOW FOR STORMS PASSING DIRECTLY OVER THE TERMINALS. && .MARINE...WEAK PRESSURE PATTERN WILL REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH THE NEXT FEW DAYS. BY MONDAY A WEAK SURFACE BOUNDARY APPROACHING THE NORTHERN COASTAL WATERS MAY SLIGHTLY STRENGTHEN THE PRESSURE GRADIENT A BROAD AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE REESTABLISHES OVER THE REGION. && .FIRE WEATHER...NO HEADLINES THROUGH THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED EACH AFTERNOON ALONG THE SEA BREEZE. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 80 92 80 93 / 20 40 20 40 FMY 78 94 77 94 / 20 50 20 40 GIF 76 96 76 96 / 20 50 20 40 SRQ 80 93 79 93 / 20 40 20 40 BKV 74 95 72 95 / 20 40 20 40 SPG 82 92 82 92 / 20 40 20 40 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. GULF WATERS...NONE. && SHORT TERM/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...20/BARRON LONG TERM/AVIATION...18/FLEMING
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 404 AM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011 FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-132015- LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK- MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE- 404 AM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL AGAIN AFFECT THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON HOURS WITH BETTER CHANCES ACROSS THE INTERIOR AND SOUTHERN COUNTIES. MAIN HAZARDS WILL BE HEAVY DOWNPOURS...GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. ...EXCESSIVE HEAT IMPACT... HIGH TEMPERATURES AND ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL BRING HEAT INDEX VALUES AROUND 105 IN THE AFTERNOON HOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH DAY WITH GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY RAINS AND FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING POSSIBLE. ...EXCESSIVE HEAT IMPACT... PERSISTENT HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL ALLOW HEAT INDEX VALUES TO RISE TO AROUND 105 THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY. REYNES
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
1141 AM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1045 AM WATER SPOUT 9 WSW SARASOTA 27.27N 82.68W
08/13/2011 GMZ853 FL AIRPLANE PILOT
2 PILOTS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD SOUTHWEST OF ST.
PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER AIRPORT.
&&
TFLEMINGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
1255 PM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1130 AM WATER SPOUT 4 SSW SEMINOLE 27.79N 82.82W
08/13/2011 GMZ853 FL BROADCAST MEDIA
MEDIA RELAYED A PHOTO TAKEN FROM REDINGTON BEACH OF A
SMALL WATER SPOUT.
&&
TBARRONSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 1258 PM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011 FLZ049-051-131730- HILLSBOROUGH-PASCO- 1258 PM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CENTRAL PASCO AND NORTHWESTERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES A THUNDERSTORM LOCATED NEAR LAND O LAKES...OR NEAR LUTZ...MOVING NORTH AT 5 MPH... WILL AFFECT ODESSA...LUTZ...LAND O' LAKES AND LAND O LAKES...UNTIL 130 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. && LAT...LON 2831 8261 2832 8233 2810 8240 2811 8259 TIME...MOT...LOC 1658Z 181DEG 5KT 2821 8251
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 132 PM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011 FLZ049-051-131815- HILLSBOROUGH-PASCO- 132 PM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT EASTERN PASCO AND NORTHERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES THUNDERSTORMS LOCATED NEAR WESLEY CHAPEL...OR 8 MILES EAST OF LUTZ...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH...WILL AFFECT WESLEY CHAPEL...ZEPHYRHILLS AND SAN ANTONIO...UNTIL 215 PM EDT. THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 75 BETWEEN EXITS 274 AND 285. 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. && LAT...LON 2842 8236 2831 8209 2811 8227 2819 8243 TIME...MOT...LOC 1732Z 208DEG 5KT 2817 8233 FLEMING
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
214 PM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011
FLZ052-131900-
POLK-
214 PM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHERN POLK COUNTY...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
LOCATED NEAR POLK CITY...OR 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF AUBURNDALE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH...WILL AFFECT POLK CITY...UNTIL 300 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. THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE PEA
SIZE HAIL. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AND
WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 2813 8158 2804 8192 2820 8201 2835 8171
2835 8169
TIME...MOT...LOC 1814Z 246DEG 8KT 2816 8187SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 309 PM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011 FLZ042-043-048-132000- CITRUS-HERNANDO-SUMTER- 309 PM EDT SAT AUG 13 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN CITRUS... NORTHEASTERN HERNANDO AND NORTHERN SUMTER COUNTIES... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES STRONG THUNDERSTORMS LOCATED NEAR FLORAL CITY...OR 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF INVERNESS... MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH...WILL AFFECT LAKE PANASOFFKEE AND BUSHNELL... UNTIL 400 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS 35 TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED. TO BE SAFE GO INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...FIND A LOW SPOT...AND STAY AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS. THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AND WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. && LAT...LON 2893 8214 2861 8200 2864 8226 2879 8237 TIME...MOT...LOC 1909Z 265DEG 7KT 2871 8225
The Tampa radar (KTBW), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:30 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter measured a wind gust of 59 mph with their home weather station.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, August 2011
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: 337192.