Deep moisture and strong atmospheric instability allowed for scattered thunderstorms to develop over the interior of Central Florida during the afternoon and early evening hours, with several reports of large hail in Polk County. Additionally, one of the storms produced damaging wind gusts.
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 strong atmospheric instability allowed for scattered thunderstorms to develop over the interior of Central Florida during the afternoon and early evening hours, with several reports of large hail in Polk County. Additionally, one of the storms produced damaging wind gusts.
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, 2:15 PM EST, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 315 PM EDT SAT MAR 26 2016 .SYNOPSIS... ALOFT - A MID LEVEL TROUGH EXTENDED FROM THE CANADAIN PRAIRIES TO NORTHERN MEXICO...WITH SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT THE GULF REGION. SURFACE - A COLD FRONT STRETCHED FROM THE UPPER GREAT LAKES TO WEST TX...A STALLED FRONT WAS STRUNG OUT ALONG THE GULF COAST AND SOUTH- EASTERN STATES...AND ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE RIDGED ACROSS FL TO THE EAST GULF. && .SHORT TERM (REST OF TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY)... THE MID-LEVEL TROUGH PIVOTS AND LIFTS...STRETCHING FROM THE GREAT LAKES TO THE MID-MISSISSIPPI VALLEY...AS IT MAINTAIN SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT THE AREA BUT ALLOWING HEIGHTS TO RISE SOME. THE COLD FRONT TRACKS EAST...REACHING FROM THE GREAT LAKES TO THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THEN OUT OVER THE GULF WHILE THE FRONT ON THE GULF COAST AND SOUTHEAST U.S. REMAINS IN PLACE THROUGH EARLY SUN THEN LIFTS NORTH. THE ATLANTIC HIGH CONTINUES TO RIDGE ACROSS FL BUT BEGINS TO SLIDE EAST. WHILE THE FEATURES NOTED ABOVE ARE BEGINNING TO MOVE THE EFFECT ON THE AREA WILL BE LIMITED...WITH THE PATTERN OF TODAY REPEATING ON SUNDAY. DEEP SOUTHERLY TO SOUTHWEST FLOW CONTINUES WITH MODEL PWAT VALUES RUNNING 1.5 TO NEAR 2 INCHES. EXPECT SHOWERS/STORMS TO BE ONGOING ACROSS THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST GULF AND WILL IMPACT THE NORTHERN COUNTIES THE MOST. ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE CHANCE TO LIKELY MAINLY AFTERNOON COVERAGE REACHING DOWN THE STATE. THE GREATEST ODDS WILL IN THE NORTH AND INLAND LOCATIONS OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN COUNTIES. TEMPERATURES WILL RUN ON THE WARM SIDE OF NORMAL. THERE COULD BE PATCHY FOG TOWARD BUT COVERAGE WILL BE LIMITED AND WILL LEAVE OUT OF THE PUBLIC/MARINE FORECASTS. .MID/LONG TERM (SUNDAY NIGHT - SATURDAY)... UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH SWINGS BY TO THE NORTH SUNDAY NIGHT...NUDGING A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY SOUTHWARD INTO THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND NORTHEAST GULF. THIS WILL HELP TO MAINTAIN HIGH RAIN CHANCES ACROSS THE NATURE COAST...WITH LESSER CHANCES TO THE SOUTH. THE UPPER-LEVEL SUPPORT MOVES OUT INTO THE ATLANTIC ON MONDAY LEAVING A REMNANT FRONTAL BOUNDARY DRAPED ACROSS NORTH FLORIDA THROUGH TUESDAY. EVEN WITH THE LOSS OF THE UPPER-LEVEL DYNAMICS... AMPLE MOISTURE WILL POOL ALONG SEA BREEZE CONVERGENCE BOUNDARIES TO PRODUCE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY...ESPECIALLY EAST OF I-75. SOME DRIER AIR MAY FILTER IN NORTH OF THE I-4 CORRIDOR RESULTING IN LOWER RAIN CHANCES THERE ON TUESDAY. THE AIRMASS WILL BEGIN TO DRY OUT WEDNESDAY AND ESPECIALLY THURSDAY AS A LARGE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OFF THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST AND UPPER-LEVEL RIDGING BUILDS IN FROM THE SOUTH. WE COULD STILL SEE SOME SCATTERED AFTERNOON STORMS ON WEDNESDAY...WITH FEW IF ANY STORMS EXPECTED ON THURSDAY. ANOTHER UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH IS FORECAST TO IMPACT OUR WEATHER FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. MODEL DIFFERENCES ARE LARGE...WITH THE GFS MORE PROGRESSIVE RESULTING IN ANOTHER MESSY FRONTAL BOUNDARY OVER FLORIDA. THE ECMWF IS DEEPER BUT SLOWER...DIGGING THE TROUGH INTO TEXAS LEAVING THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY TO OUR NORTH THROUGH SATURDAY. FOR NOW WILL KEEP WITH THE ECMWF SOLUTION RESULTING IN CONTINUED WARM AND HUMID CONDITIONS WITH SOME SCATTERED SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES EACH DAY. && .AVIATION... 26/18Z-27/18Z. PREVAILING VFR UNDER BKN HIGH CLOUDS. HAVE OPTED FOR VCTS AT MOST TERMINALS TO ACCOUNT FOR ANY TSRA THAT MAY DRIFT BACK TOWARD THE COAST IN THE ONSHORE BUT LIGHT FLOW. ANTICIPATE SOME LATE NIGHT BR BUT LOW CIGS MAY BE MORE OF AN ISSUE. HOWEVER HAVE SCT STRATUS UNDER A BKN LOW VFR DECK. && .MARINE... HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE WATERS SLIDES EAST EARLY IN THE WEEK AS A DIFFUSE FRONT MOVES SOUTH OVER FLORIDA. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS BACK IN FROM THE NORTH MID-WEEK AND MOVES EAST THURSDAY. WINDS VEER AROUND AT 15 KNOTS OR LESS. MAIN CONCERN WILL BE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS. && .FIRE WEATHER... WITH A MOIST AIR MASS IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS THERE ARE NO CONCERNS...RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL REMAIN ABOVE 35 PERCENT AND BOTH WINDS AND ERC VALUES STAY BELOW CRITICAL THRESHOLDS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 71 81 71 81 / 20 10 30 40 FMY 71 86 71 86 / 20 10 20 30 GIF 70 85 70 84 / 40 30 30 50 SRQ 70 79 70 79 / 10 0 20 30 BKV 69 84 68 81 / 30 30 40 40 SPG 71 80 71 81 / 20 10 30 30 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. GULF WATERS...NONE. && SYNOPSIS/SHORT TERM/AVIATION/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...09/RUDE MID TERM/LONG TERM...63/JILLSON DECISION SUPPORT...05/CARLISLE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 437 AM EDT SAT MAR 26 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- 873-876-270845- 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 SAT MAR 26 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY WITH THE STRONGER STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...SMALL HAIL...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...AND FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING STRIKES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. 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. OGLESBY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA / RUSKIN FL
415 PM EDT SAT MAR 26 2016
FLZ043-052-248-249-251-262100-
INLAND HERNANDO-SUMTER-INLAND PASCO-POLK-INLAND HILLSBOROUGH-
415 PM EDT SAT MAR 26 2016
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN SUMTER... NORTHEASTERN
HILLSBOROUGH...SOUTHEASTERN HERNANDO...EASTERN PASCO AND
NORTHWESTERN POLK COUNTIES...
AT 415 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR BUSHNELL TO NEAR HILLSBOROUGH RIVER
STATE PARK. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ZEPHYRHILLS...DADE CITY...BUSHNELL...ST. LEO...ZEPHYRHILLS SOUTH...
HILLSBOROUGH RIVER STATE PARK...ZEPHYRHILLS WEST...ZEPHYRHILLS NORTH...
WESLEY CHAPEL SOUTH...RIDGE MANOR...SAN ANTONIO...CENTER HILL...WEBSTER...
TARRYTOWN...ZEPHYRHILLS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT...KATHLEEN...CROOM...MEADOW
POINTE...THE GREEN SWAMP AND SUMTERVILLE.
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 2863 8226 2884 8196 2835 8196 2834 8194
2811 8198 2807 8233
TIME...MOT...LOC 2015Z 202DEG 13KT 2860 8215 2813 8227SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA / RUSKIN FL
507 PM EDT SAT MAR 26 2016
FLZ043-052-242-248-249-251-262145-
INLAND HERNANDO-SUMTER-INLAND PASCO-POLK-INLAND CITRUS-INLAND
HILLSBOROUGH-
507 PM EDT SAT MAR 26 2016
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SUMTER...NORTHEASTERN
HILLSBOROUGH...EASTERN HERNANDO...EASTERN PASCO...NORTHWESTERN POLK
AND SOUTHEASTERN CITRUS COUNTIES...
AT 506 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MASCOTTE TO 14 MILES
NORTH OF COMBEE SETTLEMENT. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LAKELAND...PLANT CITY...ZEPHYRHILLS...BROOKSVILLE...WILDWOOD...DADE CITY...
BUSHNELL...THE VILLAGES...ST. LEO...ZEPHYRHILLS SOUTH...ZEPHYRHILLS
NORTH...HILL 'N DALE...ZEPHYRHILLS WEST...INVERNESS HIGHLANDS SOUTH...
INVERNESS AIRPORT...SOUTH BROOKSVILLE...NORTH BROOKSVILLE...SUGARMILL
WOODS...LAKE PANASOFFKEE AND RIDGE MANOR.
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 2896 8206 2896 8196 2835 8196 2834 8186
2836 8185 2836 8180 2834 8179 2834 8165
2795 8208 2873 8247
TIME...MOT...LOC 2106Z 240DEG 13KT 2848 8199 2827 8192PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
518 PM EDT SAT MAR 26 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0451 PM HAIL 5 N PLANT CITY 28.08N 82.14W
03/26/2016 E0.25 INCH HILLSBOROUGH FL PUBLIC
PEA SIZED HAIL REPORTED AT SR 39 AND KNIGHTS GRIFFIN ROAD
NORTH OF PLANT CITY.
&&
JHUBBARDThe Tampa radar (KTBW), 94 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:55 UTC.
3 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Quarter sized hail was reported in Davenport near Interstate 4 and US 27 lasting for about 5 minutes.
Larger than quarter sized hail was reported near Davenport about 1 mile south of Interstate 4 on US 27.
Thunderstorm wind gusts destroyed a shed and pushed in storm doors on a house, twisting the hinges off.
Quarter sized hail lasting for several minutes was reported near Poinciana.
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: 616678, 616679, 616682, 616680.