Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Florida, June 24 to 30, 2012

Tropical storm force winds were felt along the Levy County Coast as Tropical Storm Debby moved onshore on the afternoon of the 26th. Heavy rainfall of over 8 inches fell across the county from the 24th through the 26th, with the highest 3 day total reported at the CoCoRaHS site at Chiefland 2.4 WSW. The storm caused $175,000 in damage to roads.

The Anclote River at Elfers began to flood on the 24th due primarily to heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby. The river crested early on the morning of the 26th at 26.74 feet, or 6.74 feet above flood stage, and then fell below flood stage on the 29th. As many as 15,000 people were evacuated from 7,000 homes due to the rising flood waters. Homes at Anclote River Estates were standing in several feet of water.

On the 27th, the body of a 46 year old man was found floating in the Anclote River. The Medical Examiner determined that the man died of accidental drowning, with a cardiovascular factor, but no other details are known.

Seven homes were flooded in Lake Panasoffkee, mostly with minor flooding of an inch or less. One home along County Road 426 had 5 inches of water in it, but resides in bowl shaped terrain. Additionally, the heavy rain led to several sink holes in Lake Panasoffkee and The Villages.

Heavy rain caused roadway flooding with several cars stranded.

Heavy rain caused street flooding near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Fowler Avenue.

Heavy rain caused minor flooding in Indian Rocks Beach. A 71 year old man died after suffering a heart attack while standing in less than a foot of water in his front yard and could not remove himself from the water. The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was drowning, with heart disease as a contributing factor.

A roof collapsed on a vacant building from thunderstorm wind gusts. As a result of the roof failure, approximately 1 foot of water flooded the building.

Sporadic damage to orange groves along path. One barn received moderate damage and tractor damage.

Strong thunderstorm wind gusts damaged 20 homes in the La Casa Mobile Home Park. Major damage was sustained to one home including the roof being peeling back and subsequent water damage. Minor damage occurred to 6 other homes.

A trained spotter reported 3 trees downs and 3 telephone poles down in Saint Petersburg near 16th Avenue South and 21st Street South. One of the trees fell onto a trailer.

A 32-year-old woman in Venus died from injuries after a tornado threw her 200 feet away from her home. She was found cradling her 3-year-old daughter in her arms who survived.

The tide gauge at Clearwater Beach measured a peak tide of 5.43 feet MLLW on the afternoon of the 24th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the calculated highest storm surge was 3.10 feet on the evening of the 24th. The tide gauge at Saint Petersburg measured a peak tide of 4.87 feet MLLW on the evening of the 25th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the highest storm surge was calculated as 3.56 feet late on the evening of the 25th.

Significant street flooding was reported in Tarpon springs and Saint Petersburg. Along Dodecanese Boulevard in Tarpon Springs, street flooding was all the way up to the foundations of several businesses. In Treasure Island, Gulf Boulevard between 107 St. south and Saint Johns pass was flooded with cars stranded. In Clearwater, waves were splashing over the seawalls. In Gulfport, water rose up to the bumpers of cars and flooded streets.

Damage to public beaches from erosion was estimated at $3M.

The tide gauge at Old Port Tampa measured a peak tide of 5.42 feet MLLW on the evening of the 25th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the highest storm surge was calculated as 3.97 feet late in the evening of the 25th.

The tide gauge at McKay Bay measured a peak tide of 4.43 feet MLLW on the evening of the 25th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the highest storm surge was calculated as 4.07 feet late on the evening of the 25th.

Storm surge water flooded Bay Shore Boulevard from the afternoon of the 24th until late on the 26th.

The tide gauge at Port Manatee measured a peak tide of 4.43 feet MLLW on the afternoon of the 24th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the highest storm surge was calculated as 3.26 feet late in the evening of the 25th.

Storm Surge on Anna Maria Island flooded streets and brought the water level up to the foundations of several houses. Around noon on the 24th, water was flowing over the narrow part of Anna Maria Island from the Gulf of Mexico to the Intercoastal. Marina Drive in Holmes Beach reopened Monday morning, but there was still 8 inches of water covering the roadway during the morning commute.

Damage to county beaches from erosion was estimated at $5.9 million.

Storm surge flooded several streets in Hudson on the 24th and 25th, with water up to the bumpers on cars. Water was on the roadways on Old Dixie Highway north of Clark Street in Hudson.

Damage to area beaches was estimated at $3.8 million.

A lifeguard stairs stand was destroyed on Lido Beach, and the stairs stand on another lifeguard stand on Siesta Key was detached but sustained no damage. Also at Lido Beach, high water flooded a parking lot.

Damage to area beaches from erosion was estimated at $1.9 million.

In Charlotte Harbor, storm surge reached the top of a boat ramp and flooded a picnic area. Damage to county beaches from erosion was estimated at $2.5 million.

Part of the Suncoast Parkway between State Road 50 and US 98 was closed due to flooding from heavy rains in Tropical Storm Debby from June 24th through July 4th. Some parts of the Parkway were under 5 feet of water.

A trained spotter reported road flooding on US 19 and Alternate 19 with only one lane passable in each direction. Near Rowan Road and Massachusetts Avenue, 2-3 feet of water was reported covering the roads. In Hudson, amateur radio reported 2 feet of water flooded the inside of a Wal-Mart on US 19.

A car driving southbound on Lake Shipp Drive near the intersection with Ridge Avenue hydroplaned around 6:40 pm EDT on the 24th and hit another vehicle. A third vehicle was unable to stop in time, and struck the second vehicle. The passenger in the first vehicle, a 23 year old woman died on the way to the hospital. The drivers of all three vehicles and another passenger were all treated at an area hospital.

A 51-year-old male was found in a creek under a bridge on 150th Avenue in Largo. The creek was swollen due to heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby. The date and time of the death was estimated to be on the 24th. The body was found on the 27th.

Public video shows a tornado hitting power lines and kicking up debris. The 600 block of Lake June Road on the north side of the lake had damaged homes.

A tornado damaged 21 structures including mobile homes, car ports, billboards and trees. One block home lost part of the roof and debris blocked Walsingham Road near Hamlin Boulevard.

Minor damage to at least five homes and several pool cages and fences destroyed. Trees and branches were downed.

Broadcast media reported two homes sustained roof damage at State Road 54 and Madison Street.

The New Port Richey Parks Department reported major damage to five homes in the Tanglewood Terrace subdivision with an estimated damage of $650,000.

A trained spotter reported minor damage as a tornado briefly touched down near the intersection of Thompson Nursery Road and State Road 653. A semi was overturned in a ditch with trees and power lines downed.

Emergency Management reported a narrow path of damage that included damage to at least 17 homes. A big box store lost part of the roof. Power lines were downed and blocking a road. Multiple mobile homes sustained roof damage.

A trained spotter reported broken windows and downed power lines 1 mile north of Don Cesar.

A waterspout moved onshore and destroyed the top floor of a tourist rental building. No one was in the top units and no injuries were reported in the bottom units. The tornado caused moderate damage to the Pass-A-Grille Marina.

Broadcast media reported several large trees down in Lake Sarasota.

The C-MAN station at Venice Beach measured a 58 knot thunderstorm wind gust.

A tornado produced a narrow damage path with 20 homes receiving minor damage, two mobile homes destroyed, and one block home with major damage. Numerous trees were knocked down.

Four people, some vacationing from Alabama became caught in rip currents as they were swimming in the Gulf of Mexico after Tropical Storm Debby. A relative who attempted to save them became the fifth person caught in the rip currents. Bystanders pulled all five people back to shore, but one of them, a 41 year old woman, was unconscious and not breathing, and died as a result.

The tide gauge at Cedar Key measured a peak tide of 6.78 feet MLLW on the evening of the 25th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the calculated highest storm surge was 4.49 feet late in the evening of the 25th.

The surge flooded a few buildings at Cedar Key and Yankeetown.

The tide gauge at Fort Myers measured a peak tide of 3.98 feet MLLW on afternoon of the 25th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the highest storm surge was calculated as 3.09 feet on the afternoon of the 25th.

Lighthouse Road in Sanibel suffered erosion and was closed by Sanibel Police on the morning of the 25th.

Damage to county beaches from erosion is estimated at $2 million.

The Kings Bay neighborhood had significant street flooding on the 25th and 26th. Additionally, several streets were flooded in Homosassa with up to 2 feet of water covering roadways on the 26th.

Storm surge pushed water onto Pine Island, flooding a parking lot and picnic area on the morning of the 25th.

A county employee reported a funnel cloud touched down as a brief tornado in southwest Highlands County. No damage was reported in this rural area.

The Myakka River reached flood stage on the 27th from heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby. The flooding continued through the end of the month, ending with a level of 8.12 feet, or 1.12 feet above flood stage.

The water flooded several homes in the Playmore neighborhood near US 41 west of North Port.