Plentiful low level moisture, the presence of dry air aloft and a westerly steering component caused scattered thunderstorms to develop over the western peninsula and move into the interior during the late afternoon. Several of the storms became severe, producing winds of 60 mph winds at Orlando International Airport, over the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and near Port Mayaca.
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.
Plentiful low level moisture, the presence of dry air aloft and a westerly steering component caused scattered thunderstorms to develop over the western peninsula and move into the interior during the late afternoon. Several of the storms became severe, producing winds of 60 mph winds at Orlando International Airport, over the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and near Port Mayaca. A funnel cloud was also spotted near Tradition in St. Lucie County.
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 Aug 9, 2:14 PM EST, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Melbourne FL 314 PM EDT Thu Aug 9 2018 .DISCUSSION... Tonight...Storms from mid to late afternoon are expected to increase over ECFL given westerly deep layer winds and a diffuse west coast boundary moving across the area. Current forecast keeps sct coverage in place through sunset with steady tapering off of activity through late tonight while lingering storms move toward the east coast and off the beaches of Volusia and Brevard counties. Fri...Similar regime remains in place for Fri as ridge remains south of the area. Development of diurnal storms over the favored eastern portion of the peninsula wl occur. Guid continues to suggest at least sct coverage, with slightly better chcs over the central to southern half of the area and along the coast once again from from mid to late afternoon. from prev disc... Sat...Broadly cyclonic pattern over the eastern seaboard continues thru week's end, which will keep the axis of the Bermuda Ridge suppressed south of Lake-O and the Nrn Bahamas. This in turn will generate a westerly flow thru the H100-H70 lyr acrs the region, a flow pattern that will concentrate diurnal precip over the east central peninsula. Sun-Wed... Troffing pattern will persist east of the MS River Valley into early next week before gradually dampening out into mid week. This will allow the Bermuda Ridge axis to slowly build into central FL, with the H100-H70 mean flow gradually backing from SW on Sun to due S by daybreak Wed. The increasing southerly component will tap sufficient tropical moisture to push PoPs into the 50-60pct range Sun/Mon. A new slug of dry air is fcst to advect into FL by midweek. PoPs will continue to favor the east coast thru Tue, but dropping back to 30- 40pct, then 30pct areawide on Wed as low/mid lvl flow orients itself to S/SE, parallel to the central FL Peninsula. No sig change in PoPs as the prevailing srly wind component keeps them AOA climo...maxes L/M90s, mins L/M70s. && .AVIATION... Stronger west winds today have led to an early start to convection with some early afternoon showers moving across the interior areas/terminals. Based on latest trends in HRRR and local WRF models it seems showers and storms will affect a majority of the terminals across the area this afternoon. Based on this I included TEMPO groups for the possibility of strong storms producing brief periods of MVFR/IFR visibilities. The likely period of shower and thunderstorm impact will be from approximately 09/19Z-22Z for the interior terminals, and from approximately 09/20Z-23Z for the coastal terminals. Storms should dissipate and/or move offshore after sunset, with VFR conditions prevailing overnight. With a low chance of showers/storms for Friday, I've held off on adding a VCSH/VCTS group at KMCO with the 09/18Z TAF package. && .MARINE... Tonight...Wly steering flow may allow some storms to push just offshore later in the day/toward sunset from convection that develops over the interior and can push back toward the coast. Outside of this activity favorable winds and seas can be expected. Fri-Mon...Broad troffing pattern over the ern seaboard will keep the Bermuda ridge axis in the vcnty of Lake-O and the nrn Bahamas into early next week. Light to gentle SWrly breeze will prevail, backing to S/SE in the early aftn/late evng hrs due to the sea breeze circulation. Seas AOB 2FT nearshore and 2-3FT offshore on Fri, subsiding to AOB 2FT areawide Fri night thru Mon. Primary marine threat will be sct tsras moving offshore each aftn. && .HYDROLOGY... The river level on the Saint Johns River at Astor is forecast to remain nearly steady in minor flood stage late this week, then begin to slowly decline this weekend into early next week. The river may recede below Minor Flood Stage over the next 5 days, but will remain elevated above Action Stage beyond the forecast period. Elsewhere, river levels are forecast to remain within Action Stage over the next 5 days. Please refer to our River Flood Warnings/Statements (FLSMLB) and Hydrologic Statements (RVSMLB) for the most recent stage and forecast information. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DAB 75 92 75 92 / 30 40 30 50 MCO 76 93 75 93 / 20 30 20 40 MLB 74 92 75 91 / 30 40 30 50 VRB 72 92 73 91 / 30 40 30 50 LEE 77 93 76 93 / 10 30 20 40 SFB 77 94 77 94 / 20 30 20 40 ORL 77 94 76 93 / 20 30 20 40 FPR 73 91 72 90 / 30 40 30 50 && .MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. AM...None. && JP/TES/KR
Hazardous Weather Outlook...Updated National Weather Service Melbourne FL 1109 AM EDT Thu Aug 9 2018 AMZ550-552-555-570-572-575-FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141- 144-147-100000- 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- 1109 AM EDT Thu Aug 9 2018 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. .THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are forecast to develop on the east and west coast sea breeze boundaries this afternoon and move to the east at 5 to 10 mph. Boundary interactions should increase the coverage and intensity of storms during the late afternoon and early evening, especially near the east coast. The main storm threat will be from lightning strikes, which will be frequent in a few strong storms. Drier mid level air will enhance the thunderstorm gust potential, with gusts up to 50 mph possible. Stronger and slower moving storms could also dump near 2 inches of rain in an hour. .RIP CURRENT IMPACT... A small long period swell will continue to produce a moderate rip current risk at area beaches. Only swim in the ocean near a lifeguard. .MARINE THUNDERSTORM GUST IMPACT... Isolated to scattered storms will move to the east at 5 to 10 mph across the peninsula this afternoon and evening, with a few pushing across the coast. Gusts 40 to 50 mph will be possible with a few storms. Mariners should remember that these strong wind gusts often occur well ahead of the heavy rain and lightning associated with an approaching storm. .RIVER FLOOD IMPACT... The Saint Johns River at Astor remains near Flood Stage. A River Flood Warning continues in this area for minor flooding. The Saint Johns River at Sanford, Deland, and above Lake Harney near Geneva remain above Action Stage. River levels are forecast to remain steady or slowly fall through late week. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. Rising moisture levels will lead to a gradual increase in storm coverage through the weekend. Lightning strikes will continue to be the main hazard, but the presence of some drier mid level air will keep the gust potential elevated. Slow moving storms will also produce local rain amounts of 2 or 3 inches in a short period of time, leading to water ponding problems on roadways and in other poorly drained areas. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated today. Lascody/Sedlock
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
415 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2018
FLZ045-053-144-092045-
Osceola FL-Orange FL-Southern Lake County FL-
415 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN LAKE...SOUTHWESTERN
ORANGE AND NORTHWESTERN OSCEOLA COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM EDT...
At 415 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Four Corners, or near Celebration, moving east at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Orlando, Kissimmee, Winter Garden, Groveland and Windermere.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 2856 8192 2849 8134 2825 8134 2824 8155
2826 8156 2826 8166 2835 8166 2835 8172
2844 8190
TIME...MOT...LOC 2015Z 251DEG 15KT 2832 8160
CombsSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
429 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2018
FLZ141-092100-
Coastal Volusia FL-
429 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN VOLUSIA COUNTY UNTIL
500 PM EDT...
At 429 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Daytona Beach, moving east at 20 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, New Smyrna Beach and South
Daytona.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to 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 2910 8090 2908 8090 2906 8107 2926 8115
2928 8115 2930 8100
TIME...MOT...LOC 2029Z 254DEG 20KT 2921 8104
CombsSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Melbourne FL 437 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2018 FLZ045-046-053-092115- Osceola FL-Orange FL-Seminole FL- 437 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN SEMINOLE...SOUTH CENTRAL ORANGE AND NORTH CENTRAL OSCEOLA COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM EDT... At 437 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Pine Castle, or near Orlando International Airport, moving east at 15 mph. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Orlando, Kissimmee, Oviedo, Winter Park and Casselberry. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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 2828 8153 2864 8142 2864 8104 2829 8114 TIME...MOT...LOC 2037Z 267DEG 14KT 2842 8138 Combs
The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:52 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
A thunderstorm become severe just west of Orlando International Airport then moved over the airfield. Downed powerlines were reported by a trained spotter, approximately 3 miles west of the airfield. The airport ASOS (KMCO) measured peak gusts of 60 mph at 1551LST and then 69 mph at 1554LST.
USAF wind tower 0714 within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, east of Titusville, recorded a peak wind of 58 mph from the southwest as a severe thunderstorm moved across a non-populated area of northern Merritt Island toward the Atlantic.
An Amateur Radio operator reported a brief rope-shaped funnel cloud descending approximately 85 percent of the way down from the storm. The funnel cloud was observed to the northwest as he was driving north on Interstate 95 near Port St. Lucie. Weather radar indicated that the funnel cloud was associated with a strong thunderstorm over western St. Lucie County, south of Okeechobee Road.
A trained spotter estimated winds gusting to 60-65 mph in Port Mayaca as a severe thunderstorm moved onshore from Lake Okeechobee. A delayed public report confirmed numerous trees were downed between Port Mayaca and the Martin/Palm Beach County line. Another report received via social media revealed powerlines down in the same area on the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, August 2018
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: 774006, 774015, 774017, 774016.