Early afternoon thunderstorms developed along the Gulf Coast and produced gusty winds, hail and excessive lightning across Manatee, Pinellas and Levy counties.
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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.
Early afternoon thunderstorms developed along the Gulf Coast and produced gusty winds, hail and excessive lightning across Manatee, Pinellas and Levy counties.
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 Jul 21, 12:44 PM EST, 39 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 144 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 .AVIATION...Overall VFR conditions are expected at all terminals today, then scattered thunderstorms could cause some brief MVFR/local IFR conditions this afternoon and evening. Have put VCTS for all terminals and a TEMPO TSRA group at FMY/RSw/PGD for lowered CIGS/VSBY in thunderstorms from 18Z through 20Z. Winds will remain out of an easterly direction, with an afternoon sea breeze setting up at TPA/PIE/SRQ causing an onshore wind flow from 18Z through 00Z. && .Prev Discussion... /issued 926 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2016/ UPDATE...Another day of predominately easterly wind flow can be expected today. A west coast sea breeze will set up along the coast this afternoon. The easterly winds will be just strong enough to keep it pretty close to the coast, only making it about 10-15 miles inland at best. That radar is showing some stray showers along the east coast very similiar to what we saw yesterday at this time. The 12z sounding is a little more moist that 24 hours ago, but the overall indices are very similiar. The HRRR guidance is also showing a similiar trend to what we saw yesterday with scattered afternoon showers and storms streaming in from the east. Current forecast looks good for now with 30-50 pops starting at 18z. No updates needed at this time. AVIATION...VFR conditions are expected at all terminals early today, then scattered thunderstorms could cause some brief MVFR/local IFR conditions this afternoon and evening. Winds will start out from an easterly direction, with an afternoon sea breeze setting up at TPA/PIE/SRQ causing an onshore wind flow from 17Z through 00Z. MARINE...The low level ridge axis will remain north of the waters into the weekend keeping a rather light easterly flow across the area with winds shifting to onshore near the coast with the sea breeze during each afternoon. Early next week the ridge axis will sink south some into the region continuing the light winds and slight seas. The only hazard will be higher winds and seas in the vicinity of isolated to scattered mainly nighttime and morning thunderstorms. && .Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs... TPA 77 91 77 92 / 30 50 30 40 FMY 75 91 75 91 / 30 70 30 60 GIF 75 93 75 93 / 20 50 30 40 SRQ 76 92 76 90 / 30 50 30 40 BKV 73 93 73 93 / 30 50 30 40 SPG 78 92 79 92 / 30 50 30 40 && .TBW Watches/Warnings/Advisories... FL...None. Gulf waters...None. && SHORT TERM/AVIATION/MARINE...74/Wynn MID TERM/LONG TERM/DECISION SUPPORT...84/Austin
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 437 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 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- 873-876-220845- 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- 437 AM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... SCATTERED AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP...MOVING WEST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...AND FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING STRIKES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED EACH DAY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS... AND FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING STRIKES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY. FLEMING
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA / RUSKIN FL
116 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016
FLZ052-056-057-211800-
HIGHLANDS FL-POLK FL-HARDEE FL-
116 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN HARDEE...
NORTHWESTERN HIGHLANDS AND SOUTH CENTRAL POLK COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM
EDT...
AT 115 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
AVON PARK...MOVING WEST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM...ALONG
WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAINFALL.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
AVON PARK...FROSTPROOF AND AVON PARK EXECUTIVE AIRPORT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 2775 8139 2756 8141 2755 8175 2767 8176
2779 8173
TIME...MOT...LOC 1715Z 093DEG 14KT 2767 8151
AUSTINSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA / RUSKIN FL 201 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 FLZ165-265-211845- INLAND LEE-COASTAL LEE- 201 PM EDT THU JUL 21 2016 ...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN LEE COUNTY... AT 159 PM EDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE CLUSTERED OVER LEHIGH ACRES... MOVING WEST AT 10 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... CAPE CORAL...FORT MYERS...LEHIGH ACRES...OLGA...CYPRESS LAKE... PINE MANOR...BUCKINGHAM...EAST DUNBAR...SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AIRPORT... IONA...PALMONA PARK...LOCHMOOR WATERWAY ESTATES...VILLAS... MCGREGOR...CHARLESTON PARK...HARLEM HEIGHTS...SAN CARLOS PARK... THREE OAKS...FORT MYERS VILLAS AND PAGE PARK. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. LAT...LON 2675 8157 2650 8162 2647 8200 2677 8198 TIME...MOT...LOC 1759Z 106DEG 9KT 2661 8167
The Tampa radar (KTBW), 36 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:23 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The roof of an older trailer in the Bayshore Gardens neighborhood was blown off and some debris from that caused minor damage to two neighboring trailers. Winds were estimated at around 45 mph based off radar and nearby observations.
A boat at the Isla Yacht and Country Club was struck by lightning, caught on fire and eventually sunk.
Pinellas County Fire Rescue reported that a person was struck by lightning on the beach near the Sand Pebble resort. He was transported to a local hospital and survived.
Pinellas County Fire Rescue reported a tree was blown over and collapsed on a residential roof top.
The Levy County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail northeast of Chiefland.
The Levy County Emergency Manager reported a tree down across a road northeast of Chiefland.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, July 2016
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: 638658, 638659, 638661, 638704, 638709, 638710.