A strong lightning storm developed during the early afternoon a few miles southeast of Apopka. A lightning strike from this storm caused the fatality of a man in Apopka.
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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 strong lightning storm developed during the early afternoon a few miles southeast of Apopka. A lightning strike from this storm caused the fatality of a man in Apopka.
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 Sep 10, 9:04 AM EST, 3 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Melbourne FL 1004 AM EDT Thu Sep 10 2020 .DISCUSSION... Morning sounding from XMR shows a very moist atmosphere with precipitable water coming in at 2.09" along with a deep layer of east to southeast flow. This pattern will favor highest chances for showers and storms initially at the coast this morning into early afternoon with activity quickly spreading inland and becoming numerous thereafter. Hi-res model guidance is in good agreement with vast majority of the precipitation exiting the forecast area to the west by sunset, except for a few lingering showers along the Kissimmee River northward into Lake county. However, with the onshore flow, some showers may start pushing back onshore across the coastal counties by the early evening hours. Have 50% PoPs along the coast quickly increasing to 70% inland. Only update this morning was trimming afternoon PoPs for the coast since most convection will be heading inland. Otherwise, inherited forecast looks good. && .AVIATION... Showers and storms will quickly transition from the coastal terminals this morning/early afternoon to the interior sites through early this evening. Still expecting high coverage of showers and storms, especially for the inland terminals, but models showing a faster inland progression of convection, and TEMPOs/end time of precip have been adjusted an hour or so forward. Onshore flow will keep VCSH mention along the coast this evening and overnight. && .MARINE... Today-tonight (previous)...Another day of SE flow at or a little below 10kt with seas 2ft near shore and 3ft well offshore. Both wave models seem to be running a little high again away from the coast, so have capped them at 3ft, at least until buoy data justifies 4ft anywhere in our MAOR. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DAB 89 76 89 77 / 50 20 50 30 MCO 90 75 91 76 / 70 10 70 20 MLB 88 77 88 78 / 50 20 50 30 VRB 88 76 89 76 / 50 20 50 30 LEE 91 75 91 76 / 70 30 70 20 SFB 91 75 91 75 / 70 10 60 20 ORL 90 76 91 76 / 70 10 70 20 FPR 89 75 90 77 / 50 20 50 30 && .MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. AM...None. && Combs/Sedlock/Watson
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Melbourne FL 1126 AM EDT Thu Sep 10 2020 AMZ550-552-555-570-572-575-FLZ041-044>047-053-054-058-059-064-141- 144-147-102300- 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- Northern Lake-Orange-Seminole-Southern Brevard-Osceola- Indian River-Okeechobee-St. Lucie-Martin-Coastal Volusia- Southern Lake-Northern Brevard- 1126 AM EDT Thu Sep 10 2020 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. .THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... A continued southeast flow of deep moisture will continue to stream across east central Florida today. This will lead to the development of numerous showers and scattered lightning storms, with the highest chances over the interior and around Lake Okeechobee. Today's storms will move west to northwest at 10 to 15 mph. Deadly cloud to ground lightning strikes, torrential downpours and brief gusty winds will accompany the strongest storms. Move indoors to safety at the first sign of threatening skies, or if you hear thunder. .FLOOD IMPACT... Torrential downpours of of 1 to 3 inches or a little higher in 60 to 90 minutes may produce temporary road, urban and poor drainage flooding today. If you encounter torrential downpours reduce your speed and turn on your low beam headlights. Never try to drive through a flooded roadway as the water may be too deep to allow your vehicle to make it across safely. .RIP CURRENT IMPACT... There will be a Moderate risk for life-threatening rip currents at area beaches today. While rips will be present all day, the threat will be highest after 600 PM this evening due to tidal effects. To reduce your chance of being caught in the seaward pull of a rip current, swim only within sight of a lifeguard, and never swim alone, while following social distancing guidelines. .MARINE THUNDERSTORM GUST IMPACT... Wind gusts near 35 knots will be possible in stronger storms over inland lakes and along the north shore of Lake Okeechobee. Boaters should seek safe harbor in advance of storms. .RIVER FLOOD IMPACT... The Saint Johns River at Astor is forecast to remain near Action Stage of 2 feet today and tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. on and early evening through this weekend, with slightly lower coverage next week. The main hazards remain occasional to frequent lightning strikes, gusty winds, and heavy downpours. A moderate risk of dangerous rip currents will continue at the east central Florida beaches this week, with the threat becoming high this weekend due to a building long period swell from distant Tropical Storm Paulette as it moves northwest over the open western Atlantic. Barring significant heavy rainfall over the Saint Johns River basin today, the water levels as Astor is forecast to fall just below Action Stage by this weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed this afternoon and tonight. However, spotters are requested to report any rainfall amounts in excess of two inches to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. Cristaldi
The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:14 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A 58 year old man was struck and killed by a lightning strike while grilling outdoors next to a tree.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning, Seminole | 2020-09-10 | 58 | Male | Under Tree | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, September 2020
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: 924716.