A thunderstorm with frequent lightning moved across Hobe Sound. Lightning in advance of the storm struck in man who was outdoors at a State Park.
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 MLB wrote it up.
A thunderstorm with frequent lightning moved across Hobe Sound. Lightning in advance of the storm struck in man who was outdoors at a State Park. The man was transported to a local hospital and later died.
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 Melbourne, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 25, 8:37 AM EST, 5 hours 40 minutes earlier.
EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 937 AM EDT FRI MAR 25 2016 .DISCUSSION... ...INCREASED CHANCE OF SHOWERS/STORMS THROUGH THE WEEKEND... MID AND HIGHER LEVEL CLOUDINESS SPREADING EAST FROM OVERNIGHT CONVECTIVE SYSTEM IN THE EASTERN GULF IS MAKING FOR A VERY CHALLENGING OUTLOOK FOR STORM COVERAGE AND STRENGTH FOR THE REST OF TODAY. EARLY VISIBLE SAT IMAGERY SHOWS INCREASED CLOUDINESS SPREADING TOWARD ECFL AND WL PUT A DAMPER IN SB HEATING THIS MORNING. THE MORNING SOUNDING FROM XMR SHOWS STRONG WSW WINDS OF 40+ KTS ABV 10K FT WITH COOLER TEMPS NR -10.6C AND SUFFICIENT LAPSE RATE FOR CONV DEVELOPMENT. REDUCED POTENTIAL FOR SB HEATING AND DEVELOPMENT OF ANY ASCD BOUNDARIES WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR SEVERE STORMS TO DEVELOP. A LOW CONFIDENCE FORECAST RESULTING FROM QUESTIONABLE SB HEATING IS A RESULT AND IT IS FELT THE ABUNDANCE OF ANYTHING WHICH DEVELOPS THIS AFTN WL NOT BE SEVERE IN NATURE. GIVEN THE ENVIRONMENT WITH COOL TEMPS AND WINDS ALOFT THE MAIN CONCERN WL BE FOR SMALL HAIL...WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING SHOULD ANY STRONG STORMS DEVELOP. THERE ARE SOME RAIN SENSITIVE AREAS OVER NRN OSCEOLA CO NEAR POINCIANA TO TITUSVILLE IN N BREVARD CO WHICH HAD QUITE A LOT OF RAIN YESTERDAY AND WL BE MONITORED INTO THE WEEKEND. WL KEEP CURRENT FORECAST NO'S IN PLACE AND NO UPDATE IS PLANNED ATTM. TODAY/TONIGHT...WARM AND UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY AS DEEP MOISTURE PERSISTS SOUTH OF FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLING ACROSS NORTH FL/SOUTH GA. DEEP SW FLOW...IMPULSES ALOFT AND COOL MID LEVEL TEMPS AT 500MB AROUND -11 WILL KEEP HIGH SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORMS CHANCES IN THE FORECAST. A LIMITING FACTOR WILL BE AMOUNT OF SFC HEATING WE END UP SEEING AS MID TO HIGH LEVEL CLOUD COVER MAY CONTINUE TO PUSH ACROSS THE REGION FROM CONVECTION OVER THE EASTERN GULF. HOWEVER EVEN WITH MODEST HEATING THERE SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY TO SUPPORT INCREASING SHOWER AND STORM DEVELOPMENT INTO THE AFTERNOON...MOVING EAST TOWARD THE COAST AND OFFSHORE THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING. A FEW STORMS WILL BECOME STRONG WITH ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH AND SMALL TO MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL. && .AVIATION...VFR CONDS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE MORNING BEFORE SHOWERS AND STORMS INCREASE IN COVERAGE IN THE AFTERNOON AND SHIFT E/NE TOWARD THE COAST AND EVENTUALLY OFFSHORE INTO THE EVENING. TEMPO IFR/MVFR CONDS WILL OCCUR WITH ANY OF THIS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY MAINLY BETWEEN 25/18-26/00Z. A FEW STRONGER STORMS WILL BE DEVELOP AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS...WITH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS THE MAIN THREATS. && .MARINE... (PREVIOUS DISC) A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL STALL ACROSS N FL/S GA WITH WINDS GENERALLY REMAINING OUT OF THE SOUTH AROUND 10-15 KNOTS. ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL MOVE OFF THE EAST COAST THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL POSSIBLE IN SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS. SEAS WILL RANGE FROM 3-5 FEET. WEEKEND...THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO LINGER NORTH OF CENTRAL FL WITH FURTHER NORTHWARD MOVEMENT DURING SUNDAY. LIGHT WINDS SATURDAY WL DEVELOP S/SE COMPONENT IN THE WARM SECTOR SUNDAY TO 10-15 KNOTS WITH SEAS 2-4 FEET. THERE WILL BE SOME OFFSHORE MOVING STORMS EACH AFT/EVE PRODUCING TEMPORARILY HIGHER WINDS AND SEAS. && .MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...NONE. && JP/TES
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL 515 AM EDT FRI MAR 25 2016 AMZ550-552-555-570-572-575-FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141- 144-147-252115- FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA-BREVARD COUNTY LINE 0-20 NM-VOLUSIA- BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 0-20 NM- SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET 0-20 NM-FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA- BREVARD COUNTY LINE 20-60 NM-VOLUSIA- BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 20-60 NM- SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET 20-60 NM-INLAND VOLUSIA COUNTY- NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY-ORANGE-SEMINOLE-SOUTHERN BREVARD COUNTY- OSCEOLA-INDIAN RIVER-OKEECHOBEE-ST. LUCIE-MARTIN- COASTAL VOLUSIA COUNTY-SOUTHERN LAKE COUNTY- NORTHERN BREVARD COUNTY- 515 AM EDT FRI MAR 25 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. .THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. STORMS WILL MOVE EAST TO NORTHEAST UP TO 20 TO 25 MPH TOWARD THE EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA COAST AND EVENTUALLY OFFSHORE INTO THE EVENING. A FEW STRONGER STORMS ARE EXPECTED WITH THE MAIN THREATS BEING FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...STRONG WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL. HOWEVER AN ISOLATED THREAT FOR SEVERE STORMS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE...PRODUCING LOCALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL. .FLOOD IMPACT... A FEW STRONGER STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL UP TO 2 TO 3 INCHES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS WILL LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING OF ROADWAYS AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. .RIP CURRENT IMPACT... WEATHER AND OCEAN CONDITIONS WILL LEAD TO A MODERATE THREAT FOR DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AT EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA BEACHES TODAY. THE THREAT WILL BE HIGHEST FROM EARLY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNSET DUE TO TIDAL EFFECTS. .MARINE THUNDERSTORM GUST IMPACT... AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE TOWARD THE EAST TO NORTHEAST UP TO 20 TO 25 MPH. A FEW STRONGER STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS OF 35 KNOTS OR HIGHER OVER INLAND LAKES AND AS THEY PUSH OFF THE COAST LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. SCATTERED TO LOCALLY NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND LIGHTNING STORMS ARE FORECAST THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEKEND AND INTO MONDAY. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING BUT A FEW STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG CONTAINING SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO MONITOR THE WEATHER AND SELF ACTIVATE IF NEEDED. WEITLICH
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
100 PM EDT FRI MAR 25 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0250 AM MARINE TSTM WIND 3 SW CAPE CANAVERAL 28.36N 80.65W
03/25/2016 M41 MPH AMZ552 FL MESONET
DELAYED REPORT. A WEATHERFLOW MESONET STATION ON THE
BANANA RIVER JUST NORTH OF THE 520 CAUSEWAY RECORDED A 35
KNOT WIND GUST OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AS A THUNDERSTORM
MOVED OVER THE INTRACOASTAL.
&&
ULRICHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
119 PM EDT FRI MAR 25 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 PM MARINE TSTM WIND 3 W KENNEDY SPACE CENTE 28.64N 80.75W
03/24/2016 M39.00 MPH BREVARD FL OTHER FEDERAL
DELAYED REPORT. UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WIND TOWER 0714
RECORDED A 34 KNOT WIND GUST OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AS
THUNDERSTORMS MOVED OFFSHORE.
1040 PM MARINE TSTM WIND 4 W PLAYALINDA BEACH 28.66N 80.70W
03/24/2016 M48.00 MPH BREVARD FL OTHER FEDERAL
DELAYED REPORT. A UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WIND TOWER 0415
RECORDED A 42 KNOT WIND GUST OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AS A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVED OFFSHORE. NEARBY USAF WIND
TOWER 0110 RECORDED A 38 KNOT WIND GUST OUT OF THE WEST
AT THE SAME TIME.
&&
ULRICHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
127 PM EDT FRI MAR 25 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0431 PM HAIL 3 WNW COUNTRY HILLS EST 27.38N 80.85W
03/24/2016 M1.75 INCH OKEECHOBEE FL FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE STATION 4 AT THE
INTERSECTION OF US-441 AND NE 168TH STREET REPORTED GOLF
BALL SIZED HAIL. TIME ESTIMATED USING RADAR.
0545 PM HAIL GRANT 27.93N 80.53W
03/24/2016 M0.70 INCH BREVARD FL TRAINED SPOTTER
DIME SIZED HAIL FELL FOR 3 TO 4 MINUTES. SPOTTER BRE-077
LOCATED 1/2 MILE EAST OF BABCOCK AND GRANT ROADS.
0609 PM TSTM WND GST 3 SSE INDIALANTIC 28.05N 80.55W
03/24/2016 M43.00 MPH BREVARD FL MESONET
37 KNOT WIND GUST FROM THE SOUTH SOUTHEAST. FROM APRS
NETWORK DW824.
0735 PM TSTM WND GST 4 NW HAULOVER CANAL 28.78N 80.80W
03/24/2016 M48.00 MPH BREVARD FL OTHER FEDERAL
USAF TOWER 421 RECORDED A WIND GUST OF 42 KNOTS FROM THE
SOUTH.
1015 PM MARINE TSTM WIND 3 W KENNEDY SPACE CENTE 28.64N 80.75W
03/24/2016 M39.00 MPH BREVARD FL OTHER FEDERAL
DELAYED REPORT. UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WIND TOWER 0714
RECORDED A 34 KNOT WIND GUST OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AS
THUNDERSTORMS MOVED OFFSHORE.
1020 PM TSTM WND GST 6 NE TITUSVILLE 28.64N 80.75W
03/24/2016 M46.00 MPH BREVARD FL OTHER FEDERAL
USAF TOWER 714 RECORDED A WIND GUST OF 40 KNOTS FROM THE
WEST NORTHWEST.
1040 PM MARINE TSTM WIND 4 W PLAYALINDA BEACH 28.66N 80.70W
03/24/2016 M48.00 MPH BREVARD FL OTHER FEDERAL
DELAYED REPORT. A UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WIND TOWER 0415
RECORDED A 42 KNOT WIND GUST OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AS A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVED OFFSHORE. NEARBY USAF WIND
TOWER 0110 RECORDED A 38 KNOT WIND GUST OUT OF THE WEST
AT THE SAME TIME.
1147 PM TSTM WND GST S PATRICK AIRFORCE BASE 28.24N 80.61W
03/24/2016 M43.00 MPH BREVARD FL AWOS
PATRICK AFB MEASURED WIND GUST.
0250 AM TSTM WND GST 5 NE PORT CANAVERAL 28.46N 80.53W
03/25/2016 M43.00 MPH BREVARD FL OTHER FEDERAL
37 KNOT WIND GUST FROM THE WEST NORTHWEST. FROM KSC TOWER
KSC3.
0250 AM MARINE TSTM WIND 3 SW CAPE CANAVERAL 28.36N 80.65W
03/25/2016 M41.00 MPH AMZ552 FL MESONET
DELAYED REPORT. A WEATHERFLOW MESONET STATION ON THE
BANANA RIVER JUST NORTH OF THE 520 CAUSEWAY RECORDED A 35
KNOT WIND GUST OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AS A THUNDERSTORM
MOVED OVER THE INTRACOASTAL.
0315 AM NON-TSTM WND GST MELBOURNE AIRPORT 28.10N 80.64W
03/25/2016 E39.00 MPH BREVARD FL ASOS
MELBOURNE AIRPORT ASOS RECORDED A WIND GUST OF 34 KNOTS
FROM THE NORTHWEST.
&&
ULRICHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
144 PM EDT FRI MAR 25 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0540 PM HAIL 6 SSE PALM BAY 27.91N 80.63W
03/24/2016 E1.00 INCH BREVARD FL BROADCAST MEDIA
SEVERAL RESIDENTS IN SOUTHERN PALM BAY NEAR GRANT ROAD
AND BABCOCK STREET SENT IN PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF HAIL UP
TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS.
&&
ULRICHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
242 PM EDT FRI MAR 25 2016
FLZ041-045>047-053-141-144-147-252015-
INLAND VOLUSIA COUNTY FL-NORTHERN BREVARD COUNTY FL-
SOUTHERN BREVARD COUNTY FL-OSCEOLA FL-SOUTHERN LAKE COUNTY FL-
ORANGE FL-COASTAL VOLUSIA COUNTY FL-SEMINOLE FL-
242 PM EDT FRI MAR 25 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ORANGE...SOUTHWESTERN LAKE...
SEMINOLE...NORTHERN OSCEOLA...NORTHERN BREVARD AND SOUTHEASTERN
VOLUSIA COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM EDT...
AT 242 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR CLERMONT TO NEAR FOUR
CORNERS TO NEAR WINTER HAVEN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ORLANDO...DELTONA...KISSIMMEE...SANFORD AND TITUSVILLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THE PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND STRONG WIND
GUSTS...WHICH CAN CAUSE UNSECURED OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND...SNAP TREE
LIMBS...CAUSE POWER OUTAGES OR CAPSIZE SMALL BOATS. HEAVY RAINFALL
WILL TEMPORARILY REDUCE VISIBILITY. SEEK SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THE
STORM PASSES.
BOATERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT STRONG WIND GUSTS SOMETIMES OCCUR WELL
AWAY FROM THE HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING ASSOCIATED WITH STORMS.
HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...WHICH WILL
REDUCE VISIBILITY AND MAY LEAD TO TEMPORARY FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND
POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH
THESE STORMS. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE SEVERAL MILES AWAY FROM A
THUNDERSTORM. SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. OPEN
SHELTERS FOUND IN PARKS...ON BEACHES OR GOLF COURSES OFFER NO
PROTECTION FROM THE DANGERS OF LIGHTNING.
&&
LAT...LON 2854 8195 2879 8149 2878 8142 2883 8141
2910 8090 2859 8054 2846 8049 2839 8056
2824 8056 2808 8135 2809 8140 2805 8146
2807 8145 2814 8145 2814 8152 2826 8156
2826 8166 2835 8166 2835 8192 2844 8196
TIME...MOT...LOC 1842Z 244DEG 42KT 2852 8178 2830 8166 2807 8169
BRAGAWSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
305 PM EDT FRI MAR 25 2016
FLZ064-251945-
MARTIN FL-
305 PM EDT FRI MAR 25 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MARTIN COUNTY UNTIL
345 PM EDT...
AT 303 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
JONATHAN DICKINSON STATE PARK...OR 7 MILES WEST OF JUPITER ISLAND...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
DIME SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TEQUESTA...JUPITER ISLAND...PORT SALERNO...HOBE SOUND AND JONATHAN
DICKINSON STATE PARK.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THE PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND
STRONG WIND GUSTS...WHICH CAN CAUSE UNSECURED OBJECTS TO BLOW
AROUND...SNAP TREE LIMBS...CAUSE POWER OUTAGES OR CAPSIZE SMALL
BOATS. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL TEMPORARILY REDUCE VISIBILITY. SEEK
SHELTER INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.
BOATERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT STRONG WIND GUSTS SOMETIMES OCCUR WELL
AWAY FROM THE HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING ASSOCIATED WITH STORMS.
HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...WHICH WILL REDUCE
VISIBILITY AND MAY LEAD TO TEMPORARY FLOODING OF LOW LYING AND POOR
DRAINAGE AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 2697 8008 2697 8014 2696 8014 2696 8031
2697 8033 2707 8033 2720 8013 2707 8008
TIME...MOT...LOC 1903Z 244DEG 14KT 2698 8020
SEDLOCKThe Melbourne radar (KMLB), 133 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:16 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A 41-year old man was struck by lightning in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, south of Hobe Sound. The man was playing catch with his son in a grassy field when he was struck by lightning on the top of his head. He was transported to a hospital in critical condition and died on April 4.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning, Martin | 2016-04-04 | 41 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
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, March 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: 618362.