An outflow boundary traveling ahead of a cold front produced a line of showers and thunderstorms on the evening of the 26th. A lightning strike from one of these storms struck a tree causing it to smoulder, which later spread to a nearby vacant house.
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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.
An outflow boundary traveling ahead of a cold front produced a line of showers and thunderstorms on the evening of the 26th. A lightning strike from one of these storms struck a tree causing it to smoulder, which later spread to a nearby vacant house.
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 Mar 26, 9:25 PM EST, 1 hour 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 1025 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2015 .AVIATION... MAIN ISSUE FOR TAFS WAS TIMING OF PRECIP/TSTMS AND POTENTIAL FOR MVFR CIGS. FOLLOWING SCENARIO BELOW IN PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... LEANING TOWARD TSTMS IMPACTS SITES LATE TONIGHT AND AGAIN FRI WITH 2 SEPARATE TSTM EVENTS. WIDESPREAD PRECIP AND FROPA FRI WILL PROVIDE HIGH PROBABILITY OF MVFR CIGS MUCH OF THE DAY ON FRI AND ON AND OFF MVFR CIGS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE TONIGHT. WINDS WILL TURN W AND NW THROUGH DAY AND INCREASE WITH GUSTS IN THE 20S. SOME STRONG STORMS ARE POSSIBLE. && .MARINE... PREFRONTAL SHOWERS CURRENTLY MOVING ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL WATERS. MOST OF THE ACTIVITY IS FAR BEHIND THESE SHOWERS AS THE FRONT IS STILL LAGGING BACK NEAR NEW ORLEANS. THE FRONT WILL APPROACH OVERNIGHT AND SWEEP THE COASTAL WATERS FRIDAY WITH WINDS VEERING TO NORTHWEST AT CAUTION TO ADVISORY SPEEDS. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN OVER THE WEEKEND WITH WINDS VEERING AND DIMINISHING INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 957 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2015/ UPDATE...FIRST CONVECTIVE EVENT ASSOC W/ APPROACHING UPR TROUGH IS WINDING DOWN WITH JUST A FEW SHRA ALONG THE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY ACROSS CEN ZONES. BIG CHALLENGE TONIGHT IS TIMING AND CHARACTOR OF NEXT CONVECTIVE EVENT AS MODELS STRUGGLE WITH STORMS WHICH ARE DEVELOPING ALONG OUTFLOWS...THE PREFRONTAL TROUGH...ETC. MOST GLOBAL MODELS AND SOME HIGH RES MODELS INCLUDING MOST RECENT LOCAL WRF RUN ARE FOCUSING ON A FRIDAY DAYTIME EVENT WITH THE MAIN FOCUS BEING EITHER A PREFRONTAL TROUGH OR THE ACTUAL FRONT. THAT SCENARIO WOULD PROVIDE THE GREATEST THE SEVERE THREAT WITH THIS UPR TROUGH AND ASSOC FRONT AS THE CONVECTIVE TIMING WOULD LINE UP WITH BEST UPR SUPPORT AND GREATEST SHEAR. THAT SAID...A CLUSTER OF STORMS WELL OFFSHORE IN THE GOMEX SOUTH OF NEW ORLEANS TO TLH IS TRACKING EAST-SE AT PRETTY GOOD CLIP AND IF IT HOLDS TOGETHER IT WILL ARRIVE BY AROUND 7Z. THIS WILL NOT PRECLUDE AN ADDITIONAL CONVECTIVE EVENT LATER ON FRI WITH MAIN UPR DYNAMICS AND FRONT...BUT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY HAMPER INSTABILITY AND SEVERE POTENTIAL DURING THE DAY. EVEN SO...THERE IS ENOUGH SHEAR OVERNIGHT THAT THERE IS A VERY LOW PROBABILITY OF SEVERE STORMS WITH THIS ACTIVITY OVERNIGHT AND SOMEWHAT AVERAGE LOOKING STORMS PRODUCED 45 MPH EARLIER THIS EVENING. GIVEN ALL THE UNCERTAINTY...SPC HAS MAINTAINED A MARGINAL RISK OF SVR STORMS TONIGHT ACROSS NRN HALF AND TOMORROW ACROSS ACROSS OUR SRN HALF. GONNA HAVE TO LET THIS PLAY OUT A LITTLE BUT FEEL THE SECOND SCENARIO ABOVE IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR (STORMS TONIGHT AND AGAIN TOMORROW). THIS OF COURSE STILL MEANS HIGH POPS AND DECENT RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE IN ORDER TONIGHT AND FRI. HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO TWEAK GRID TIMING BASED ON THIS THINKING. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 72 77 55 69 / 70 80 0 0 FMY 72 81 58 75 / 60 90 10 0 GIF 69 79 52 70 / 50 80 0 0 SRQ 71 77 57 69 / 60 80 0 0 BKV 68 77 47 68 / 80 90 10 0 SPG 72 76 59 68 / 70 80 0 0 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. GULF WATERS...NONE. && UPDATE/AVIATION...88/GITTINGER MARINE...007/DOUGHERTY DECISION SUPPORT...99
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 449 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2015 FLZ043-050-052-056-057-061-139-142-148-149-151-155-160-162-165- 239-242-248-249-251-255-260-262-265-GMZ830-836-850-853-856-870- 873-876-271200- SUMTER-PINELLAS-POLK-HARDEE-HIGHLANDS-DESOTO-COASTAL LEVY- COASTAL CITRUS-COASTAL HERNANDO-COASTAL PASCO- COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH-COASTAL MANATEE-COASTAL SARASOTA- COASTAL CHARLOTTE-COASTAL LEE-INLAND LEVY-INLAND CITRUS- INLAND HERNANDO-INLAND PASCO-INLAND HILLSBOROUGH-INLAND MANATEE- INLAND SARASOTA-INLAND CHARLOTTE-INLAND LEE-TAMPA BAY WATERS- CHARLOTTE HARBOR AND PINE ISLAND SOUND- COASTAL WATERS FROM TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER FL OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON SPRINGS FL OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM BONITA BEACH TO ENGLEWOOD FL OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER FL OUT 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON SPRINGS FL OUT 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM BONITA BEACH TO ENGLEWOOD FL OUT 20 TO 60 NM- 449 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ESPECIALLY FROM THE TAMPA BAY AREA NORTHWARD ALONG THE NATURE COAST THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT AS STORMS MOVE INTO THE AREA OFF THE GULF OF MEXICO. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY DOWNPOURS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES...SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS ACTIVITY. IN ADDITION...THERE IS A LOW PROBABILITY OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND HAIL UP TO ONE INCH DIAMETER BEING THE MAIN THREATS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... THUNDERSTORMS WILL SHIFT SOUTH EARLY FRIDAY WITH AREAS FROM TAMPA BAY AREA SOUTHWARD IMPACTED MAINLY FRIDAY MORNING INTO EARLY AFTERNOON. STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY DOWNPOURS... DANGEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES...SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS ACTIVITY. IN ADDITION...THERE IS A LOW PROBABILITY OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND HAIL UP TO ONE INCH DIAMETER BEING THE MAIN THREATS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER AND SELF ACTIVATE IF NEEDED. GITTINGER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA / RUSKIN FL
631 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2015
FLZ139-239-262315-
INLAND LEVY-COASTAL LEVY-
631 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2015
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT LEVY COUNTY...
AT 630 PM EDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BRONSON TO 13 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
WILLISTON HIGHLANDS TO 17 MILES NORTHWEST OF CRYSTAL RIVER AIRPORT...
AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WILLISTON...BRONSON...WILLISTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...EAST BRONSON...
WILLISTON HIGHLANDS...INGLIS...OTTER CREEK AND LEBANON.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 2954 8255 2948 8255 2948 8241 2922 8243
2921 8253 2905 8253 2902 8262 2903 8271
2899 8276 2906 8276 2910 8282 2910 8279
2917 8281 2917 8289 2939 8292 2954 8262
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 241DEG 25KT 2937 8272 2924 8273 2907 8275
RAGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA / RUSKIN FL
710 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2015
FLZ142-148-242-248-262345-
COASTAL CITRUS-INLAND HERNANDO-INLAND CITRUS-COASTAL HERNANDO-COASTAL
CITRUS-
710 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2015
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN CITRUS AND
NORTHWESTERN HERNANDO COUNTIES...
AT 709 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS 8 MILES SOUTH OF HOMOSASSA
SPRINGS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
INVERNESS...HOMOSASSA SPRINGS...INVERNESS HIGHLANDS NORTH...INVERNESS
HIGHLANDS SOUTH...INVERNESS AIRPORT...WEEKI WACHEE GARDENS...NORTH
WEEKI WACHEE...SUGARMILL WOODS...LEISURE ACRES...INVERNESS
HIGHLANDS...CHASSAHOWITZKA REFUGE...ROYAL HIGHLANDS...GOSPEL
ISLAND...LAKE LINDSEY...HEATHERWOOD...WITHLAPOPKA ISLE...
ISTACHATTA...FLORAL CITY...GLEN LAKES AND SUBURBAN ACRES.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 2867 8266 2871 8264 2870 8265 2872 8265
2892 8228 2880 8217 2876 8218 2871 8225
2865 8227 2852 8267 2853 8267 2857 8264
2863 8265 2863 8267
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 243DEG 36KT 2868 8254
RAGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA / RUSKIN FL
735 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2015
FLZ043-270015-
SUMTER-
735 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2015
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SUMTER COUNTY...
AT 733 PM EDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM NEAR INVERNESS AIRPORT TO NEAR NORTH
BROOKSVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WILDWOOD...BUSHNELL...THE VILLAGES...LAKE PANASOFFKEE...CENTER
HILL...WEBSTER...COLEMAN...TARRYTOWN...OXFORD...WAHOO...RUTLAND...
NOBLETON...ADAMSVILLE AND SUMTERVILLE.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 2846 8196 2846 8206 2852 8206 2853 8210
2857 8215 2857 8222 2865 8227 2871 8225
2876 8218 2878 8219 2880 8217 2882 8218
2890 8228 2896 8230 2896 8196
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 229DEG 36KT 2885 8224 2873 8232 2860 8240
RAGThe Tampa radar (KTBW), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:00 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a tree late on the evening of the 26th, causing it to smoulder. When fire fighters arrived at the house at 4am the next morning, the house was fully engulfed in flames.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, March 2015
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: 557979.