A line of thunderstorms developed along an outflow boundary moving southeast across the Gulf of Mexico. Some of these storms produced damaging wind gusts over West-Central Florida as they came onshore.
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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.
A line of thunderstorms developed along an outflow boundary moving southeast across the Gulf of Mexico. Some of these storms produced damaging wind gusts over West-Central Florida as they came onshore.
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 May 17, 2:47 PM EST, 2 hours 54 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 347 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016 .SHORT TERM (TODAY - WEDNESDAY)... Mid afternoon GOES satellite imagery is showing a large and well organized MCS over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, with a large cirrus shield extending towards coast from around Tampa Bay north. Areas under this cirrus are staying somewhat stable, though interior portions of the forecast area and farther to the south are seeing scattered to numerous thunderstorms developing and slowly drifting northeast. Over Southwest Florida, a weak sea breeze has pushed inland and temporarily cleared out the coast. Through the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening, HRRR and other high resolution guidance is indicating that the MCS will send an outflow southeast across the eastern Gulf, bringing another round of thunderstorms through West-Central and Southwest Florida, including areas that have already been cleared by the sea breeze. These storms are expected to somewhat wind down overnight, but a few storms should linger through Wednesday morning. On Wednesday, the mid level impulse/disturbance that has been contributing to the trouble today will be moving east into the Atlantic, although abundant moisture will remain across the Florida Peninsula, with the GFS showing precipitable water values of 1.5 to 2.0 inches across the area. This will allow for another cloudy day, with scattered to numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon. .MID TERM/LONG TERM (Wednesday Night-Tuesday)... A rather zonal mid level flow will setup across the region for Wednesday night into Friday then some shortwave energy moving east across the southern states will phase with a shortwave trough dropping through the Midwest Friday night and Saturday before cutting off along the Mid-Atlantic and southeast U.S. early next week. Meanwhile at the surface a stalled frontal boundary will remain across North Florida and the Deep South into Friday then lift north as a warm front as low pressure develops over the Lower Mississippi Valley. This low will track east northeast and off the Mid-Atlantic coast early next week dragging a cool front south into the region. In general it looks like the summer-like pattern with warm and somewhat muggy conditions and scattered mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms will continue through the weekend. Late in the week the flow will be rather light with a decent sea breeze developing and therefore taking the best rain chances inland over the interior counties during the afternoon and evening. Over the weekend a more southwest to west flow will setup as the cool front approaches from the northwest, but there will be some shortwave energy moving through during Saturday helping to enhance the rain chances across the entire region. Then early next week the flow will shift to northwest to north behind the boundary as high pressure builds south bringing some drier air into the area lowering rain chances to 20 to 30 percent, or back to more typical May values. && .AVIATION... A weak sea breeze has cleared out the coastal TAF sites early this afternoon, with mostly VFR conditions holding at this time, and only isolated pockets of MVFR ceilings. However, the complex over the Gulf is forecast to send out an outflow boundary, that will bring another round of showers and thunderstorms through the area during the early evening hours. && .MARINE... A ridge of high pressure to the northeast of Florida, and developing low pressure over the western Gulf of Mexico are fostering southerly winds over the coastal waters today. Although the gradient winds will generally remain 10-15 knots or less, locally higher winds in the vicinity of some of the stronger thunderstorms today will create hazardous boating conditions. && .FIRE WEATHER... Humidity will remain well above critical thresholds through the week. The wetter than normal pattern will continue through the next several days, with the highest rain chances over the interior. && .Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs... TPA 73 85 75 87 / 40 50 20 30 FMY 73 88 75 91 / 20 50 20 40 GIF 71 86 72 91 / 50 60 20 50 SRQ 73 83 73 87 / 40 40 20 30 BKV 70 85 69 90 / 40 50 20 40 SPG 74 84 74 88 / 40 40 20 30 && .TBW Watches/Warnings/Advisories... FL...None. Gulf waters...None. && SHORT TERM/AVIATION/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...18/Fleming MID TERM/LONG TERM/DECISION SUPPORT...69/Close
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL 436 AM EDT TUE MAY 17 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- 873-876-180845- 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- 436 AM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. ...THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED EACH DAY FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOST ACTIVE DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS...AND ALSO TO THE EAST OF THE I-75 CORRIDOR. NO ORGANIZED OR WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED THIS WEEK...HOWEVER...A FEW THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY. MCKAUGHAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA / RUSKIN FL 533 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016 FLZ052-056-057-172215- HIGHLANDS-POLK-HARDEE- 533 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN HARDEE...NORTHWESTERN HIGHLANDS AND SOUTH CENTRAL POLK COUNTIES... AT 533 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WAUCHULA... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... SEBRING...AVON PARK...WAUCHULA...SWEETWATER...BOWLING GREEN...ZOLFO SPRINGS...AVON PARK EXECUTIVE AIRPORT AND SEBRING SHORES. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. 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 2753 8138 2736 8175 2752 8193 2782 8164 TIME...MOT...LOC 2133Z 227DEG 17KT 2753 8172 EO
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
552 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0551 PM MARINE TSTM WIND 5 SW LARGO 27.86N 82.85W
05/17/2016 E41 MPH PINELLAS FL MESONET
FROM A PERSONAL WEATHER STATION ON INDIAN SHORES BEACH.
&&
NOAHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
610 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0604 PM TSTM WND GST PIE ST PETE CLRWTR AIRP 27.92N 82.69W
05/17/2016 M52 MPH PINELLAS FL ASOS
ASOS MEASURED WIND GUST WEST AT 45 KNOTS.
&&
NOAHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
626 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0621 PM TSTM WND GST TPA TAMPA INTL AIRPORT 27.98N 82.53W
05/17/2016 E40 MPH HILLSBOROUGH FL ASOS
ASOS MEASURED A WEST WIND GUST AT 35 KNOTS.
&&
NOAHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA - RUSKIN FL
634 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0626 PM TSTM WND GST MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE 27.85N 82.52W
05/17/2016 M40 MPH HILLSBOROUGH FL ASOS
ASOS MEASURED 35 KNOT WIND GUST.
&&
NOAHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY AREA / RUSKIN FL
635 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
FLZ043-050-052-056-057-061-151-155-160-248-249-251-255-260-172330-
INLAND MANATEE FL-INLAND SARASOTA FL-INLAND HERNANDO FL-
INLAND PASCO FL-PINELLAS FL-HIGHLANDS FL-SUMTER FL-POLK FL-
INLAND HILLSBOROUGH FL-COASTAL MANATEE FL-COASTAL SARASOTA FL-
COASTAL HILLSBOROUGH FL-DESOTO FL-HARDEE FL-
635 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HILLSBOROUGH...DESOTO...SOUTHERN
SUMTER...HARDEE...NORTHWESTERN HIGHLANDS...SARASOTA...SOUTHEASTERN
HERNANDO...POLK...PASCO...MANATEE AND SOUTHEASTERN PINELLAS COUNTIES
UNTIL 730 PM EDT...
AT 635 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR HILL 'N DALE TO NEAR MACDILL AIR FORCE
BASE TO 12 MILES WEST OF SAINT ARMANDS KEY. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 40
MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TAMPA...SPRING HILL...LAKELAND...SARASOTA...BRADENTON...PLANT CITY...WINTER
HAVEN...TEMPLE TERRACE...HAINES CITY...BARTOW...LAKE WALES...AUBURNDALE...
ZEPHYRHILLS...PALMETTO...SEBRING...AVON PARK...BROOKSVILLE...ARCADIA...DADE
CITY AND WAUCHULA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 2786 8266 2861 8244 2862 8196 2835 8196
2835 8166 2826 8166 2826 8156 2814 8152
2814 8146 2809 8145 2808 8135 2801 8138
2806 8146 2805 8146 2796 8135 2743 8145
2714 8164 2711 8255 2751 8280 2758 8281
TIME...MOT...LOC 2235Z 290DEG 44KT 2851 8233 2779 8250 2727 8278
EOThe Tampa radar (KTBW), 35 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:43 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter reported that an awning was ripped off a home in Bayshore Gardens.
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, May 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: 626155.