Deep moisture and southeast winds allowed scattered sea breeze thunderstorms that moved west across much of west central and southwest Florida.
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.
Deep moisture and southeast winds allowed scattered sea breeze thunderstorms that moved west across much of west central and southwest Florida.
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 1, 2:30 PM EST, 1 hour earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 330 PM EDT WED MAY 1 2013 .SYNOPSIS... ALOFT: A LONG WAVE TROUGH REACHED FROM NUNAVUT CANADA TO THE CENTRAL U.S. ROCKIES/PLAINS...A CLOSED LOW WAS OVER LA...RIDGING REACHED FROM THE LOWER GREAT LAKES INTO QUEBEC CANADA...AND A TROUGH WAS OFF THE EASTERN SEABOARD. SURFACE: A FRONTAL BOUNDARY STRETCHED FROM THE DESERT SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHERN ROCKIES-ACROSS THE PLAINS- TO THE UPPER GREAT LAKES...AND HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER NEW ENGLAND RIDGED TO THE OHIO VALLEY/SE STATES...AND LOW PRESSURE OVER THE OPEN ATLANTIC NEAR LATITUDE 30 NORTH TROUGHED SOUTHWEST ACROSS FL TO THE GULF. && .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT - FRIDAY)... THE CLOSED UPPER LOW SLOWLY MOVES ALONG THE GULF COAST AND OPENS INTO A BAGGY TROUGH OVER THE EAST GULF AND FL BY FRI. THE SURFACE LOW OVER THE ATLANTIC SHIFTS SOUTHWARD TO OFFSHORE SOUTH FL AS THE NEW ENGLAND HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS IN PLACE BUT RIDGES DOWN INTO FL. MEANWHILE THE UPPER LOW FORMS A WEAK SURFACE REFLECTION OVER THE GULF ON IT/S TREK EASTWARD. THE REMNANTS OF THIS MORNING/S LARGE MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE SYSTEM THAT WAS OVER THE GULF IS NOW ARCING ACROSS THE AREA FROM TAMPA BAY TO LAKE OKEECHOBEE. SCATTERED TO LIKELY SHOWERS/STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING. FOR THU-FRI...A WET AND UNSETTLED PATTERN CONTINUES. WEAK DISTURBANCES ROTATE AROUND THE UPPER LOW...OVER THE EAST GULF AND FL...AS IT TRACKS EASTWARD WHICH ALONG WITH DEEP MOISTURE MAINTAIN POPS IN THE SCATTERED TO LIKELY RANGE WITH THE HIGHEST COVERAGE EXPECTED TIN THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. .LONG TERM (PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOR FRIDAY NIGHT - WEDNESDAY)... A WET END TO THE WORK WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH THE WEEKEND. GUIDANCE IS STILL SPLIT ON HOW TO HANDLE THE SPECIFICS AT THE UPPER LEVELS. DISTURBANCES...WITH A DEEP 500 MB LOW BEING RESOLVED IN THE 00Z GFS...MOVE THROUGH OVER THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK. THE LOW SHOULD STAY OVER THE TENNESSEE VALLEY...BEFORE SLIDING OFF THE CAROLINA COAST ON TUESDAY. OUR AREA SHOULD BEGIN TO SEE A DRYING TREND AROUND THAT TIME WITH A SURFACE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO. NEAR THE END OF THE EXTENDED...GUIDANCE DIFFERS SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE UPPER LEVEL FEATURES. FORECAST BEYOND THE WEEKEND WILL BEAR WATCHING AS CURRENT FORECAST CONFIDENCE LEVELS ARE LOW. MODERATE CONFIDENCE FOR THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST...WHICH SHOULD NOT STRAY TOO FAR FROM THE 80S FOR HIGHS AND 60S FOR LOWS THAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS AND EXPECT OVER MUCH OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. && .AVIATION... LINE OF STORMS AND STRATIFORM RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD NORTH THIS AFTERNOON BRINGING MVFR/LOCAL IFR CONDITIONS. BEHIND THIS A FEW MORE SHOWERS COULD DEVELOP CAUSING SOME MVFR CONDITIONS...OTHERWISE VFR SHOULD RETURN AND PREVAIL INTO EARLY TONIGHT BEFORE MORE AREAS OF MVFR CEILINGS DEVELOP LATER TONIGHT ALONG WITH SOME MVFR VISIBILITIES IN FOG. && .MARINE... LOW PRESSURE MOVES ACROSS THE WATERS TO SOUTH FL AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS FROM THE NE DURING THE END OF THE WEEK WHILE ANOTHER AREA OF LOW PRESSURE FORMS IN THE GULF. THIS SECOND LOW SLIDES SOUTH OF THE AREA AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN OVER THE GULF DURING THE WEEKEND. WINDS HAVE AN EASTERLY COMPONENT AND MAY BE ROBUST AS TIMES AS THE HIGH BUILDS IN. SOME OF THE OUTER WATERS WILL BE AT CAUTION CRITERIA TONIGHT AND MAY REACH ADVISORY SPEEDS LATER IN THE WEEK. WINDS TAKE ON A WESTERLY COMPONENT DURING THE WEEKEND AS THE HIGH BUILDS IN OVER THE GULF. && .FIRE WEATHER... A WET PATTERN CONTINUES THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH NO LOW RH CONCERNS EXPECTED. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 68 82 68 85 / 60 50 40 40 FMY 68 84 66 86 / 30 60 40 50 GIF 66 83 65 85 / 50 60 40 50 SRQ 68 83 67 87 / 60 50 40 50 BKV 64 82 63 85 / 50 60 40 40 SPG 70 81 69 83 / 60 50 40 40 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. GULF WATERS...NONE. && SHORT TERM/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...RUDE LONG TERM...GARCIA AVIATION...BARRON/CLOSE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 447 AM EDT WED MAY 1 2013 FLZ039-042-043-048>052-055>057-060>062-065-GMZ830-850-853-856-870- 873-876-020300- LEVY-CITRUS-SUMTER-HERNANDO-PASCO-PINELLAS-HILLSBOROUGH-POLK- MANATEE-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-SARASOTA-DESOTO-CHARLOTTE-LEE- TAMPA BAY WATERS-TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER OUT 20 NM- ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON SPRINGS OUT 20 NM- BONITA BEACH TO ENGLEWOOD OUT 20 NM- TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER OUT 20 TO 60 NM- ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON SPRINGS OUT 20 TO 60 NM- BONITA BEACH TO ENGLEWOOD OUT 20 TO 60 NM- 447 AM EDT WED MAY 1 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TODAY...SOME OF WHICH COULD BECOME STRONG THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN HAZARDS FROM THE STRONGEST STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...LARGE HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE WEEKEND...WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAINS...AND GUSTY STRAIGHT LINE WINDS BEING THE MAIN HAZARDS WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS THAT DEVELOP. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER AND SELF ACTIVATE IF NEEDED. GARCIA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
1232 PM EDT WED MAY 1 2013
FLZ060-062-065-011730-
SARASOTA-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
1232 PM EDT WED MAY 1 2013
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT LEE...SARASOTA AND WESTERN
CHARLOTTE COUNTIES...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF TURTLE BEACH TO 25 MILES SOUTH OF BONITA SPRINGS...OR ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES WEST OF VENICE TO 25 MILES SOUTH OF
BONITA SPRINGS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL
AFFECT CAPTIVA...SANIBEL...BOCA GRANDE AND VENICE...UNTIL 130 PM EDT.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 75 BETWEEN EXITS 116 AND 210.
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH SOME OF THESE STORMS.
FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS ALSO POSSIBLE. TO BE SAFE GO INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY. IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE...FIND A LOW SPOT...AND STAY AWAY
FROM TALL OBJECTS. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY AND WILL
CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 2632 8185 2647 8198 2641 8207 2647 8218
2667 8227 2682 8229 2732 8260 2739 8255
2738 8232 2721 8226 2717 8217 2651 8155
2642 8157 2641 8166 2631 8166
TIME...MOT...LOC 1630Z 205DEG 27KT 2715 8263 2603 8186
14-MROCZKAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
118 PM EDT WED MAY 01 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1255 PM MARINE TSTM WIND NE PUNTA RASSA 26.49N 82.01W
05/01/2013 M40 MPH LEE FL MESONET
MESOWEST STATION AT SANIBEL YACHT CLUB MEASURED A WIND
GUST OF 35 KNOTS.
&&
TBARRONSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
138 PM EDT WED MAY 1 2013
FLZ055-060-062-065-011830-
MANATEE-SARASOTA-CHARLOTTE-LEE-
138 PM EDT WED MAY 1 2013
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT CHARLOTTE...NORTHEASTERN LEE...
SARASOTA AND WEST CENTRAL MANATEE COUNTIES...
AT 137 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS LOCATED FROM NEAR BRADENTON SOUTHWARD TO NORTH
PORT...PUNTA GORDA...AND FORT MYERS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10
MPH...UNTIL 230 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.
WHEN DRIVING THROUGH HEAVY RAIN...SLOW DOWN. ALWAYS LEAVE A SAFE
DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER VEHICLES.
&&
LAT...LON 2642 8167 2669 8209 2687 8207 2692 8211
2695 8207 2692 8217 2678 8215 2707 8244
2739 8262 2734 8256 2739 8257 2744 8266
2751 8269 2751 8243 2721 8226 2703 8206
2701 8156 2642 8157
TIME...MOT...LOC 1737Z 178DEG 10KT 2679 8200SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL 306 PM EDT WED MAY 1 2013 FLZ051-052-055-056-011945- HARDEE-POLK-HILLSBOROUGH-MANATEE- 306 PM EDT WED MAY 1 2013 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN MANATEE... SOUTHEASTERN HILLSBOROUGH...SOUTHWESTERN POLK AND WESTERN HARDEE COUNTIES... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATES A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS LOCATED NEAR MYAKKA HEAD...OR 13 MILES WEST OF WAUCHULA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH...WILL AFFECT MYAKKA HEAD... ONA...DUETTE AND FORT GREEN...UNTIL 345 PM EDT. GUSTY WINDS 35 TO 45 MPH WILL OCCUR. TORRENTIAL RAINS WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO NEAR ZERO AND WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. && LAT...LON 2780 8219 2763 8165 2736 8189 2749 8226 TIME...MOT...LOC 1906Z 209DEG 12KT 2751 8201
The Tampa radar (KTBW), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:28 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The social media page of a broadcast media station received several pictures of nickel to quarter sized hail near Sitka Street and Rome Avenue. Time was estimated from radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, May 2013
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: 445533.