A squall line formed well ahead of a cold front and moved through the area. The storms produced damaging winds and large hail.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 squall line formed well ahead of a cold front and moved through the area. The storms produced damaging winds and large hail.
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 May 14, 11:46 AM EST, 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 1246 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011 .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT-MONDAY)... STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO DEEPEN ACROSS THE OHIO AND MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TODAY AND CARVE OUT SHARP 500 MB TROUGHING INTO THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO. AT THE SURFACE A BROAD LOW PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY DEVELOP OVER THE OHIO VALLEY. A COLD FRONT EXTENDS SOUTH FROM THE LOW INTO THE DEEP SOUTH AND GULF COAST REGION. THE FRONT WILL PUSH TOWARDS THE AREA TONIGHT AND CROSS THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON HOURS ON SUNDAY. THE UPPER TROUGH WILL SLIDE EAST THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY AND BE REINFORCED BY A VORT MAX SWINGING SOUTH OUT OF THE DAKOTAS LATE TOMORROW WHICH WILL HELP TO PUSH 500 MB HEIGHTS LOWER ACROSS FLORIDA. THE TROUGH WILL CONTINUE ITS SOUTHEAST PROGRESS ON MONDAY AND THE UPPER LOW WILL BE OVER NORTH GEORGIA. AT THE SURFACE A SECONDARY COLD FRONT WILL PUSH SOUTH TOWARDS THE GULF COAST BY MONDAY AS WELL. THE EFFECT ON OUR WEATHER WILL BE FIRST FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. THE MODELS SHOW THE FRONT CROSSING TAMPA BAY AROUND 12Z AND MOVING SOUTH. SO WILL KEEP POPS IN THE FORECAST FROM THE BAY SOUTH TOMORROW. THE PATTERN WILL REMAIN UNSETTLED WITH THE UPPER LOW PUSHING SOUTH SO WILL CONTINUE POPS THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES WILL SHOW A MARKED COOLING THROUGH THE SHORT TERM PERIOD. MUCH COOLER AIR AT 850 MB WILL PUSH IN DURING SUNDAY AND MONDAY. HIGHS WILL TREND TO NEAR NORMAL BY SUNDAY AND THEN BELOW NORMAL BY MONDAY. NIGHTTIME LOWS WILL DIP INTO THE MIDDLE 50S IN THE NORTH AND 60S SOUTH AND HANG NEAR 70 ALONG THE COASTLINE. .LONG TERM (MONDAY NIGHT-FRIDAY)... A MID LEVEL TROUGH/LOW COMPLEX MEANDERS OVER THE OHIO VALLEY AND SOUTHEAST U.S. WHILE UPPER RIDGING REACHES FROM THE WESTERN GULF NORTHWARD TO THE CENTRAL PLAINS FOR MUCH OF THE PERIOD. THEN BY FRI THE GFS SHIFTS THE UPPER LOW TOWARD THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST WHILE THE RIDGE SLIDES EAST ALONG THE GULF COAST. THE ECMWF HOWEVER KEEPS THESE FEATURES IN PLACE. BUT IN EITHER CASE THE TROUGH AXIS REMAINS TO THE EAST OF THE AREA AND ALLOWS A DRY NORTHERLY FLOW ALOFT. HAVE THEREFORE DROPPED THE SHOWERS/STORMS TUE AND KEPT POPS AT 10 PERCENT. THE PERIOD BEGINS WITH TEMPERATURES COOLING BELOW NORMAL AND THEN WARMING FRI AND SAT. && .AVIATION... MOIST SW FLOW AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE SCATTERED TSRA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AT ALL TAF SITES. IN ADDITION SITES MAY SEE SOME GUSTS IN THE 20-25 KT RANGE. THE FRONT ITSELF SHOULD PUSH THROUGH THE AREA STARTING TOMORROW MORNING SO WILL MAINTAIN VCSH/VCTS THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. && .MARINE... UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL LOW PRESSURE IN THE AREA WILL BRING INCREASED SOUTHWEST WINDS TODAY AND EXERCISE CAUTION CRITERIA WINDS AND SEAS. THIS WILL CALM DOWN A LITTLE THROUGH THE DAY ON SUNDAY BUT A SECONDARY COLD FRONT BY MONDAY WILL BRING WINDS AND SEAS BACK UP TO NEAR ADVISORY CRITERIA. SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL BE RATHER WIDESPREAD THIS EVENING IN THE GULF BUT THEN DIMINISH AS A COLD FRONT PULLS SOUTH THROUGH THE WATERS BY SUNDAY MORNING. && .FIRE WEATHER... NO CONCERNS TODAY OR SUNDAY WITH RAIN AND HIGHER LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN PLACE. BY MONDAY AND TUESDAY DRIER AIR WILL ARRIVE AND CAUSE RELATIVE HUMIDITY TO APPROACH CRITICALLY LOW LEVELS IN THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 72 85 68 83 / 30 10 0 20 FMY 73 88 68 86 / 30 20 0 20 GIF 69 85 65 84 / 30 10 10 30 SRQ 74 84 68 81 / 30 10 0 20 BKV 65 84 56 83 / 30 10 0 20 SPG 73 83 69 81 / 30 10 0 20 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. GULF WATERS...NONE. && SHORT TERM/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...JOHNSON LONG TERM...RUDE AVIATION...BARRON
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 555 AM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011 FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-142200- LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK- MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DE SOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE- 555 AM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... A COOL FRONT WILL APPROACH THE AREA TODAY AND MOVE INTO THE NATURE COAST LATE TONIGHT BRINGING THE THREAT OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. THE BEST CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ACROSS THE NATURE COAST AND OVER INLAND AREAS FURTHER SOUTH. ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DO FORM COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL. ...RIP CURRENT IMPACT... BREEZY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP TODAY CAUSING AN INCREASED RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CHECK WITH THE BEACH PATROL WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE BEACH. ALWAYS REMEMBER TO SWIM WITHIN SIGHT OF A LIFEGUARD...AND DON'T SWIM ALONE. ...WIND AND SEA IMPACT... BREEZY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL SETUP ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS TODAY AND THESE INCREASING WINDS WILL LEAD TO CHOPPY BOATING CONDITIONS. THEREFORE...SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... THE COOL FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REST OF THE REGION SUNDAY KEEPING THE THREAT OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND AHEAD OF IT. THEN ON MONDAY A SECONDARY FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION BRINGING THE CHANCE OF A FEW MORE THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY OVER INLAND AREAS. ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DO FORM COULD PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL. ...WIND AND SEA IMPACT... BREEZY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS THROUGH TUESDAY WITH LIGHTER WINDS AND SEAS RETURNING BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER AND SELF ACTIVATE IF NEEDED. PRC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
1143 AM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
FLZ039-141630-
LEVY-
1143 AM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN LEVY COUNTY...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES THUNDERSTORMS
LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF YELLOW JACKET...OR 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
CHIEFLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH...WILL AFFECT CHIEFLAND...
UNTIL 1230 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. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN
DIAMETER IS EXPECTED. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO NEAR
ZERO AND WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 2960 8279 2959 8276 2957 8275 2957 8266
2955 8264 2954 8254 2953 8254 2930 8300
2935 8307 2942 8302 2944 8302 2948 8299
2955 8298 2960 8293
TIME...MOT...LOC 1543Z 232DEG 22KT 2940 8304SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
1229 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
FLZ052-056-057-061-141715-
DE SOTO-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-POLK-
1229 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOUTHEASTERN
POLK...HIGHLANDS...SOUTHEASTERN HARDEE AND NORTHEASTERN DESOTO
COUNTIES FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH NEARLY CONTINUOUS LIGHTNING
VALID UNTIL 115 PM EDT...
AT 1225 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS LOCATED NEAR SEBRING...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20
MPH WILL AFFECT SEBRING AND AVON PARK.
FREQUENT TO CONTINUOUS 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.
HAIL OF UP TO PENNY SIZE IS POSSIBLE IN THESE STORMS.
&&
LAT...LON 2703 8155 2751 8165 2774 8130 2756 8118
2754 8120 2749 8120 2747 8116 2740 8112
2739 8106 2731 8102 2730 8100
TIME...MOT...LOC 1629Z 243DEG 18KT 2749 8150
JOHNSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
1242 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1235 PM HAIL ARCHBOLD 27.19N 81.35W
05/14/2011 E0.25 INCH HIGHLANDS FL TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTERS HAVE REPORTED PEA SIZE HAIL IN THE CITY OF
ARCHBOLD.
&&
TBARRONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
102 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1235 PM HAIL 4 SSW SEBRING 27.44N 81.48W
05/14/2011 M0.25 INCH HIGHLANDS FL TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER HAS REPRTED PEA SIZE HAIL WEST OF SEBRING
&&
TBARRONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
107 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0105 PM HAIL SEBRING 27.49N 81.45W
05/14/2011 E0.88 INCH HIGHLANDS FL TRAINED SPOTTER
NICKEL SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN SEBRING
0107 PM HAIL SEBRING 27.49N 81.45W
05/14/2011 E0.70 INCH HIGHLANDS FL TRAINED SPOTTER
DIME SIZE HAIL IN SEBRING
&&
JOHNSONThe Tampa radar (KTBW), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:07 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.
Power lines were downed near Avon Park. There were also numerous reports of damage received from across the county.
The public reported six trees downed in the Lakeshore Mall area in Sebring.
The public reported quarter sized hail at the Lakeshore Mall in Sebring.
The Sheriff's Office received numerous reports of dime to quarter sized hail across Sebring.
A 17 year old male was standing in chest-high water off of Treasure Island Beach and got caught in a rip current and drowned, while a severe thunderstorm also approached the area.
A home weather station measured a wind gust of 71 mph.
A home weather station measured a wind gust of 72 mph in Indian Rocks Beach.
The fire department reported that there were fifteen to twenty large oak and pine trees blown down near the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 and County Road 335.
A home weather station measured a wind gust of 70 mph in Pinellas Park.
The public reported that part of a roof was blown off of a building across from Busch Gardens. Large tree limbs and railroad barriers were also blown down in the vicinity.
The PORTS Station at Old Port Tampa measured a wind gust of 76 mph or 66 knots.
There were several reports of trees, power lines, and numerous medium to large tree limbs downed around the city of Bushnell.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rip Current, Pinellas | 2011-05-14 | 17 | Male | In Water | Direct |
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, May 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: 298962, 298967, 298970, 298973, 291544, 298981, 298982, 298986, 299018, 304355, 304424, 304425.