A mid day thunderstorm produced a lightning strike which hit a tree in Stuart and injured three people who were nearby.
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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 MLB wrote it up.
A mid day thunderstorm produced a lightning strike which hit a tree in Stuart and injured three people who were nearby.
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 Jul 8, 8:30 AM EST, 2 hours 50 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Melbourne FL 930 AM EDT Sat Jul 8 2017 .DISCUSSION... ...Higher coverage of showers/storms this afternoon and evening... Current-Tonight...Morning KXMR sounding rather moist at 1.77 inches and also cooler aloft at 500 mb (-8.0C). The 915 MHZ Cape wind profiler shows light southwesterly flow (5-10kts) below 3.0KFT with light/variable winds above this level. Weak low-level troughing across the Eastern Seaboard and Deep South should suppress weak surface ridging to across the south-central FL peninsula, while ridging aloft continues across central Florida. Light/variable morning winds will become generally more southerly over the interior this afternoon while ESE along the east coast with sea breeze development and slow movement inland. The sea breeze formation may be a bit more delayed north of the Treasure Coast with current low- level ridge placement. While moisture has deepened over the past 24 hours and MOS guidance suggests 60-80pct PoPs, will stick with 50pct along the east coast and 60pct into the interior. With cooler air aloft, as well as some drier air in the mid-levels, will have to be on the lookout for some strong microburst winds with a few stronger cells. Heavy downpours, frequent lightning, and small hail will be other threats. Shower and storm activity will diminish into mid/late evening. Max temps should reach the lower to middle 90s again before storms occur. Lows again in the 70s areawide. Winds will become light SSW/SW during the night. && .AVIATION...Continued VFR this morning and early afternoon. The east coast sea breeze will generate isolated-scattered lightning storms early this afternoon across coastal counties with VCTS, at least, likely necessary for coastal terminals. High PoPs forecast for afternoon/evening into the interior with tempo groups likely necessary anywhere from mid-late afternoon into early-mid evening. Heavy downpours, frequent lightning, and potential microburst winds the main threats. && .MARINE...Today-Tonight...Low-level ridge axis across the south- central peninsula today. SSW/SW morning light winds will become ESE/SE this afternoon generally 6-12 kts. Pressure gradient weak enough that wind direction will revert back to SSW/SW tonight with speeds around 8-13 kts over the open Atlc. Seas remain conducive for favorable small craft boating at 1-2 ft, except up to 3 ft well offshore. Isolated-widely scattered storms are expected, especially over the Gulf Stream. Gusty outflow winds from scattered strong lightning storms over land this afternoon could push back to the coast and affect the intracoastal waters. && .MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. AM...None. && Sedlock/Cristaldi
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Melbourne FL 1020 AM EDT Sat Jul 8 2017 AMZ550-552-555-570-572-575-FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141- 144-147-090200- 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- 1020 AM EDT Sat Jul 8 2017 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. .THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... Increasing moisture will lead to a greater coverage of storms than in recent days. Scattered storms are expected to form along the east coast sea breeze by mid afternoon, then increase in coverage through early evening. Sea and lake breezes along with thunderstorm outflow boundaries, will interact from late afternoon into early evening. Coupled with cooler temperatures aloft, this could lead to a few strong storms, mainly after 500 PM. Wind gusts to 50 MPH or higher, hail to around 1 inch in diameter, frequent lightning are possible. Move indoors to safety if skies look threatening or you hear thunder. .FLOOD IMPACT... Slow storm motion to the north at 5 to 10 mph will allow for quick 2 or 3 inch downpours in a few of the stronger storms. Considerable water ponding can be expected on some roadways and other poorly drained areas. .RIP CURRENT IMPACT... A small east swell combined with tidal affects from a full moon will result in a moderate rip current risk. The ocean may look very inviting, but the seaward pull from rip currents is expected to be strong, especially from late morning through late afternoon. Only swim in the ocean near a lifeguard. .MARINE THUNDERSTORM GUST IMPACT... Scattered storms that form over land this afternoon will be capable of producing gusty winds to around 35 knots. Storms will mainly affect inland lakes, but some gusty outflow winds could also reach the intracoastal waters. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. Afternoon shower and thunderstorm chances will remain higher than normal over much of the area on Sunday. The highest storm coverage should then shift to the interior early next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to monitor the weather and self activate if needed. Lascody/Cristaldi
The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 117 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:20 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A lightning strike associated with a mid day thunderstorm struck a tree in Phipps Park. The strike injured three people who were nearby. Two of the three people were hospitalized. While the extent of their injuries were unknown, all of them were conscious when paramedics arrived.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, July 2017
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: 699151.