Florida, 2019Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in Florida, July 21, 2019
July 21, 2019 · NWS TBW · 2 events in 2 counties and zones
Afternoon thunderstorms produced localized gusty winds across Citrus County knocking down trees in the area. Additionally, 8 people on Clearwater Beach were struck by lightning by a developing thunderstorm.
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- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 7
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
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.
Afternoon thunderstorms produced localized gusty winds across Citrus County knocking down trees in the area. Additionally, 8 people on Clearwater Beach were struck by lightning by a developing thunderstorm.
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 Tampa Bay, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 21, 8:30 AM EST, 3 hours 13 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 8:30 AM EST, 3 hours 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
930 AM EDT Sun Jul 21 2019
.UPDATE...
Today is shaping up to be very similar to what we have seen the past
2 days. Latest surface observations and visible satellite imagery is
showing clear to partly cloudy skies and temps already in the low
80's. The 12Z morning sounding is very similiar to yesterdays as
well coming in with a PW value of 1.87 inches, which combined with
daytime heating will fuel another day of scattered afternoon showers
and storms. Some of these storms could be strong to severe with
gusty winds, heavy downpours, excessive lightning and small to
moderate hail. Anyone planning outdoor activities should stay
weather aware this afternoon as storms begins to brew and take cover
immediately when you hear thunder. Heat indices will once again be
in the 100-103 degree range, so be sure to hydrate well and take
frequent breaks indoors or a shady area. No changes needed to the
forecast at this time.
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR conditions will prevail for most of the day with light southeast
winds this morning, turning onshore with an afternoon seabreeze
around 18Z at all terminals except KLAL, which will remain southeast
less than 10 knots. Scattered TSRA/SHRA developing between 18-21Z
along the Florida west coast, so will hold VCTS at all terminals
through 01Z with some brief periods of MVFR/IFR for low CIGs and
VSBY as will as gusty winds possible in passing storms. Winds will
become light and variable less than 5 knots once again after 03Z
tonight. No other aviation impacts expected.
&&
.MARINE...
High pressure near Bermuda continues to ridge over northern Florida.
This will keep a southeast wind flow around 10 knots over the gulf
coast waters for the next couple of days. Partly cloudy skies can be
expected early in the day with scattered showers and storms this
afternoon and again on Monday afternoon. The ridge shifts south by
Tuesday as a trough moves over the eastern U.S. This will cause a
shift in the winds to the southwest remaining 10 knots or less. With
this pattern, the highest chances of showers and storms will be in
the early morning hours, then pushing east over land by the
afternoon allowing for some clearing late afternoon through the
evening hours. Gusty winds, choppy seas and dangerous lightning can
be expected in the vicinity of these storms.
&&
.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs...
TPA 91 76 91 76 / 70 50 60 20
FMY 91 75 92 75 / 70 40 60 30
GIF 92 74 93 75 / 70 20 60 20
SRQ 91 74 91 75 / 70 50 60 20
BKV 91 72 92 72 / 70 30 60 20
SPG 91 76 91 77 / 70 50 60 20
&&
.TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...None.
Gulf waters...None.
&&
UPDATE/AVIATION/MARINE...74/Wynn
UPPER AIR...42/Norman
DECISION SUPPORT...57/McMichael
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 21, 8:11 AM EST, 3 hours 32 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
911 AM EDT SUN JUL 21 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0447 PM HAIL 5 N MOON LAKE ESTATES 28.37N 82.59W
07/20/2019 E1.00 INCH PASCO FL BROADCAST MEDIA
QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED EAST OF HUDSON,
FL.
&&
TBWLightning, Pinellas
- When
- July 21, 11:43 AM EST
- Where
- Pinellas County, Clearwater Beach
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Injuries
- 7 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 27.980, -82.830
Numerous local TV stations reported 8 injuries due to a lightning strike along Clearwater Beach. One man in his 30s suffered a direct strike and went into cardiac arrest. He was sent to the hospital in critical condition where he ultimately died three days later. Three others were taken to the same hospital. A fifth was taken to Tampa General Hospital to be treated for burns. The remaining three opted not to go to the hospital.
Thunderstorm Wind, Citrus
- When
- July 21, 4:10 PM EST
- Where
- Citrus County, 1.39 mi ESE of Hernando
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 28.900, -82.360
Citrus County Emergency Management reported trees down north of E Parsons Point Rd.
- Lightning
- A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Heat in Arizona, July 21 to 26, 201913 deaths · 10 events
- Flash Flooding in Ohio, July 21 to 22, 20191 death · 1 injured · $8.2 million · 4 events
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Maryland, July 21, 20191 death · 17 events
- Heat in Arizona, July 21, 20191 death · 1 event
- Wildfire in Arizona, July 21 to 31, 2019$9.0 million · 1 event
- Flash Flood and Flood in Missouri, July 21 to 22, 2019$125,000 · 30 events
- Flash Flooding in Mississippi, July 21, 2019$179,000 · 6 events
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, July 21, 2019$86,000 · 50 kt wind · 15 events
- Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 21, 2019$135,000 · 52 kt wind · 3 events
- Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in Kentucky, July 21 to 22, 2019$115,000 · 5 events
- Lightning Strike in Georgia, July 21, 2019$100,000 · 1 event
- Flash Flooding in West Virginia, July 21 to 22, 2019$71,000 · 8 events
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: 829416, 829417.