Florida, 2016

Hail in Florida, March 28, 2016

March 28, 2016 · NWS MLB · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A strong thunderstorm moved across the southwest suburbs of Orlando and produced a brief period of penny sized hail.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MLB wrote it up.

A strong thunderstorm moved across the southwest suburbs of Orlando and produced a brief period of penny sized hail.

What forecasters said that day

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 28, 8:29 AM EST, 4 hours 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 28, 8:29 AM EST, 4 hours 6 minutes before
EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
929 AM EDT MON MAR 28 2016

.DISCUSSION...

A FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS APPROACHING THE I-4 CORRIDOR AND IS
ACCOMPANIED BY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS. SHOWERS HAVE BEEN ASCD
WITH THE SFC CONVERGENCE WITHIN THE FRONTAL ZONE AS WELL AS SOME
INDUCED VERTICAL MOTION ASCD WITH A JET MAXIMA WHICH IS IN THE
PROCESS OF DEPARTING THE AREA. THE MORNING SOUNDING FROM XMR SHOWS A
MOIST AND RELATIVELY UNSTABLE AIRMASS IN PLACE OF THE SLOWLY
APPROACHING FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THE MAIN STORM HAZARD WILL BE LOCALLY
HEAVY RAIN...LIGHTNING AND SFC WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH IN
STRONGER STORMS. COOLER H5 TEMPS (-11C) CAN PROMOTE SOME SMALL HAIL
DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.

THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF CLOUDINESS IN PLACE TO CHALLENGE
THE SHORT TERM FORECAST THIS AFTERNOON. LTST HRRR GUID INDICATES THE
FRONTAL BOUNDARY WL REMAIN A FOCUS FOR CONV DEVELOPMENT AS IT SLOWLY
ADVANCES SWD ACROSS PORTIONS CENTRAL FL DURING THE COURSE OF THE
AFTERNOON. THE CURRENT FORECAST FEATURING SCT SHOWERS AND EMBEDDED
THUNDER REMAINS ON TRACK WITH THIS SETUP AND NO ADJUSTMENTS ARE
ANTICIPATED.

PREVIOUS DISC) PRE FRONTAL MOISTURE BAND WILL EXIST ACROSS THE AREA
TODAY WITH THE HIGHEST VALUES OVER THE SOUTH. TEMPS ALOFT LOOK
SUFFICIENTLY COOL (MINUS 11 TO 12 CELSIUS AT 500MB) TO SUPPORT DEEP
CONVECTION. CONSIDERABLE DEBRIS CLOUDS WILL LIKELY LINGER BUT MAX
TEMPS SHOULD STILL CLIMB INTO THE MID 80S. NO DISCRETE MID LEVEL
IMPULSES WERE NOTED BUT PROXIMITY OF JET AXIS SHOULD PROVIDE AREAS
OF DIVERGENCE ALOFT. NOT SURE IF THE EAST COAST SEA BREEZE CAN FORM
THIS AFTERNOON WITH BOUNDARY LAYER WESTERLY FLOW STARTING OUT NEAR
15 KNOTS. A WEAKENING OF THE PRESSURE GRADIENT IS INDICATED LATE IN
THE DAY AND THE HRRR IS SHOWING A SEA BREEZE CLOSE TO THE COAST...
SO WILL HOLD ONTO A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR STRONG STORMS ESPECIALLY NEAR
THE COAST. MOS POPS CAME IN NEAR 40 PERCENT AREAWIDE AND HAVE MADE
LITTLE CHANGE TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST...GOING WITH 30 PERCENT FAR
NORTH...40 PERCENT CENTRAL AND 50 PERCENT SOUTH.

EXPECT SLIGHT CHANCE POPS THROUGH LATE EVENING AS HIGH MOISTURE AND
BOUNDARIES LINGER.  MOS SHOWS FRONTAL TYPE FOG/LOW STRATUS LATE
TONIGHT BUT WILL NOT INCLUDE FOG MENTION IN THE FORECAST AS
VISIBILITY DOES NOT LOOK VERY LOW AT THIS TIME.

&&

.AVIATION...
EARLY IFR-MVFR CEILINGS IN SOME LOCATIONS WILL MIX OUT AND LIFT
ABOVE IFR COVERAGE BY 15Z. SCATTERED SHOWERS/ISOLATED STORMS THIS
AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING SHOULD FAVOR COASTAL AND SOUTHERN TERMINALS
ESPECIALLY FM KTIX SOUTH TO KSUA AND KOBE.

&&

.MARINE...
RECENT TIGHTENING OF THE PRESSURE GRADIENT AS WELL AS THE UPR WIND
MAXIMA ASCD WITH DEPARTING JET FEATURE HAS BROUGHT SOUTHWEST WINDS
UP TO 15 KNOTS. LOW PRESSURE NORTHEAST OF FLORIDA WILL LIFT OUT AND
THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL DIMINISH THIS AFTERNOON.

ISOLATED-SCATTERED OFFSHORE MOVING STORMS CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.  A FEW COULD BE STRONG. WESTERLY WINDS
TONIGHT WILL DIMINISH TO 10 KNOTS OR LESS AS WEAKENING FRONT
APPROACHES FROM THE NORTH.

&&

.MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
AM...NONE.

&&

JP/TES
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 28, 9:07 AM EST, 3 hours 28 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
1007 AM EDT MON MAR 28 2016

AMZ550-552-555-570-572-575-FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141-
144-147-290200-
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-
1007 AM EDT MON MAR 28 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

.THUNDERSTORM IMPACT...
MOISTURE CONVERGENCE AHEAD OF A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY SAGGING INTO
CENTRAL FLORIDA WILL PROVIDE THE FUEL FOR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED
STORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN HAZARDS WILL
BE STRONG WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 50 MPH...SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING STRIKES. STORM MOTION TO THE EAST AT 20 TO 25 MPH IS
EXPECTED. THE GREATEST THREAT AREA WILL BE FROM NEAR MELBOURNE
SOUTHWARD.

.RIP CURRENT IMPACT...
A SMALL LONG PERIOD SWELL WILL KEEP A MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK
ALONG OCEAN BEACHES TODAY. IF ENTERING THE SURF...DO SO ONLY NEAR
A LIFEGUARD.

.MARINE THUNDERSTORM GUST IMPACT...
ISOLATED STRONG STORMS OVER THE MAINLAND ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE TO
THE EAST AROUND 20 KNOTS ACROSS THE COAST AND INTO THE ATLANTIC
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WIND GUSTS TO 35 KNOTS OR GREATER WILL
BE POSSIBLE. THE HIGHEST THREAT AREA WILL BE FROM MELBOURNE
SOUTHWARD THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
ISOLATED TO SCATTERED AFTERNOON LIGHTNING STORMS ARE FORECAST
ON MOST DAYS THROUGH NEXT WEEKEND. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE
FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES AND TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...BUT BOUNDARY
INTERACTIONS COULD PRODUCE A FEW SEVERE STORMS TOO.

ONSHORE WINDS WILL INCREASE WEDNESDAY...LEADING TO POOR BOATING
CONDITIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE AS WINDS VEER TO THE SOUTHEAST AND
SOUTH INTO LATE WEEK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO MONITOR THE WEATHER AND SELF ACTIVATE
IF NEEDED.

LASCODY/SEDLOCK

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 28, 12:29 PM EST, 6 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
129 PM EDT MON MAR 28 2016

FLZ045-053-281815-
OSCEOLA FL-ORANGE FL-
129 PM EDT MON MAR 28 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN ORANGE AND
NORTHWESTERN OSCEOLA COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM EDT...

AT 128 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
HUNTERS CREEK...OR NEAR KISSIMMEE...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ORLANDO...KISSIMMEE...BAY LAKE...BUENA VENTURA LAKES AND ORLANDO
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

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.

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 2827 8160 2838 8161 2853 8119 2833 8107
TIME...MOT...LOC 1728Z 250DEG 27KT 2836 8147

SEDLOCK

The radar

The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:32 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Orange

When
March 28, 12:35 PM EST
Where
Orange County, 4.39 mi WSW of Tangelo Park
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
28.366, -81.431

Storm spotters and a retired NWS employee observed penny sized hail lasting one to two minutes in the Hunters Creek area, southwest of Orlando.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Florida in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, March 2016

Sources

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: 618374.