Thunderstorms produce a brief tornado in Hardee County and damaging hail up to the size of golf balls in parts of Highlands County.
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 TBW wrote it up.
Thunderstorms produce a brief tornado in Hardee County and damaging hail up to the size of golf balls in parts of Highlands 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 Tampa Bay, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 4, 1:17 PM EST, 4 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 217 PM EDT Mon Apr 4 2022 ...Some Severe Storms Possible The Next Few Days... ...Deteriorating Marine Conditions Tuesday Through Friday... ...Elevated to High Dispersions Expected Tuesday And Wednesday... .DISCUSSION... An amplified and progressive upper air pattern will persist across the Conus through the forecast period. At the start the period a warm front across the southern peninsula and southeast Gulf this afternoon will lift north through the forecast area tonight into Tuesday. Increasing moisture and instability combined with the sea breeze circulations will support scattered showers and storms over inland locations the remainder of the afternoon through early tonight, with a few strong to severe storms possible given cold temperatures aloft (-14C at 500MB), steep mid level lapse rates, and effective shear in the 25-30 knot range with damaging winds and hail the main hazards. The convection should wind down by mid evening tonight with partly to mostly cloudy skies mild and muggy conditions expected overnight. On Tuesday surface high pressure from the western Atlantic extending west across the southern peninsula will support an increasingly moist southerly wind flow over the forecast area. This moisture combined with the sea breezes and some impulses moving through the mid level flow will support scattered showers and thunderstorms across the forecast area during the afternoon, with best chances across west central interior sections and across the Nature coast, with additional showers and storms expected much of the area on Wednesday, with a few strong to severe storms possible each day from the Tampa Bay area north into the Nature coast where a Marginal Risk for severe storms has been outlined by the Storm Prediction Center, with the main hazards being damaging winds, hail, and a tornado or two. Now during Thursday additional shortwave energy is forecast to move through the base of a deep upper level trough over the east-central U.S. which will be anchored in place by a strong closed low over the Upper Midwest into the Great Lakes region. These shortwaves combined with another cold front approaching and moving south through the forecast area during the day will keep showers and storms in the forecast (Pops 60-80%), with a chance for additional strong to severe storms with damaging winds, hail, and a tornado or two as the front and upper energy moves across the area. On Friday any lingering showers and storms will gradually end from north to south during the day as the front exits to the south of the area and drier air advects into the region on a northwest to northerly wind flow, with pleasant dry weather expected for next weekend as the upper low opens up and the attendant upper level trough shifts eastward into the Atlantic allowing high pressure surface and aloft to build in over the area from the west. Above normal temperatures will continue through Thursday with overnight lows in the 60s with daytime highs in the lower 80s along the coast, and mid to upper 80s inland. Cooler temperature will arrive on Friday and into next weekend as drier/cooler air filters into the area in the wake of the cold front with overnight lows falling into the 40s and 50s from north to south, with daytime highs topping out in the 70s each afternoon. && .AVIATION... A frontal boundary across the southern peninsula early this afternoon will lift back to the north as a warm front through tonight. Increasing moisture associated with the front will support periods of MVFR Cigs and a chance of SHRA/TSRA at KLAL and across the southwest terminals the remainder of the afternoon where VCTS has been advertised. Additional MVFR Cigs will be possible at all of the terminals after 08Z Tuesday morning. South to southwest winds at 8 to 10 knots with higher gusts in the vicinity of TSRA the remainder of the afternoon will become southeast and diminish to around 5 knots or less after 01Z tonight. South to southwest winds will increase to 12 to 15 knots with higher gusts after 14Z on Tuesday. && .MARINE... High pressure moving off the Mid Atlantic coast into the Atlantic will support southeast to south winds around 10 knot through tonight with an onshore sea breeze component developing along the coast the remainder of this afternoon. Winds will become south to southwest with speeds increasing into the Cautionary range(15-20 knots) during Tuesday and continuing into Wednesday as the high shifts further southeast over the Atlantic and a cold front approaches from the west. During Thursday a cold front will move south through the waters during the day with southwest winds in the 15 to 20 knot range ahead of it shifting to the northwest and north and remaining elevated in the Cautionary or low end Small Craft range in its wake during Thursday night and continuing into Friday and Saturday. Increasing moisture well ahead of the front will support increasing chances for showers and storms over the waters through the remainder of the week with a few strong to severe storms possible. In addition to the rain some patchy sea fog may develop as well as an increasingly moist airmass overrides the cooler Gulf waters. Drier conditions will return from north to south during the day on Friday and continuing into the upcoming weekend as cooler drier air overspread the region as high pressure builds in over the waters from the west. && .FIRE WEATHER... Increasing 20 foot winds and transport winds will support elevated to high dispersions over the region Tuesday through Thursday. Rain chances will be elevated across the entire forecast area through Thursday as upper level disturbances and fronts impact the area with scattered to numerous showers and storms expected daily, with some strong to severe storms possible. Cooler and much drier air will move into the region on a breezy northwest to northerly wind flow during the weekend as high pressure builds in from the west. && .Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs... TPA 71 87 75 88 / 10 10 10 30 FMY 71 90 74 91 / 10 10 10 10 GIF 68 90 72 90 / 10 40 10 50 SRQ 69 85 73 85 / 10 10 10 20 BKV 64 87 68 87 / 10 20 20 40 SPG 71 84 75 84 / 10 10 10 30 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. Gulf waters...None. && DISCUSSION/AVIATION/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...57/McMichael DECISION SUPPORT...22/Giarratana
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
414 PM EDT Mon Apr 4 2022
FLZ057-061-162-262-265-042100-
Coastal Charlotte FL-DeSoto FL-Highlands FL-Inland Charlotte FL-
Inland Lee FL-
414 PM EDT Mon Apr 4 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southern Highlands,
eastern Charlotte, southeastern DeSoto and north central Lee Counties
through 500 PM EDT...
At 413 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 10 miles northeast of Venus to near Babcock
Webb Wma. Movement was northeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Babcock Webb Wma, Venus, Babcock Ranch, Archbold, Brighton, Placid
Lakes and North Fort Myers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 2721 8116 2712 8117 2712 8127 2703 8127
2703 8156 2679 8157 2672 8177 2693 8195
2699 8195 2736 8103 2734 8105 2730 8103
2729 8100 2726 8100 2722 8097 2721 8094
TIME...MOT...LOC 2013Z 227DEG 6KT 2716 8122 2691 8188
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
TBWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
501 PM EDT Mon Apr 4 2022
FLZ056-057-061-262-265-042145-
DeSoto FL-Highlands FL-Inland Charlotte FL-Inland Lee FL-Hardee FL-
501 PM EDT Mon Apr 4 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southern Highlands,
southeastern Hardee, eastern Charlotte, DeSoto and northeastern Lee
Counties through 545 PM EDT...
At 459 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Lake Placid to near Babcock Ranch to 7
miles south of Lehigh Acres. Movement was east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Fort Myers, Arcadia, Lake Placid, Lehigh Acres, Southeast Arcadia,
Sylvan Shores, Lake Istokpoga, Babcock Ranch, Charleston Park, Olga,
Babcock Webb Wma, Venus, Buckingham, Fort Myers Shores, Brighton,
Nocatee, Limestone, Brownville, Alva and Placid Lakes.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 2721 8116 2712 8117 2712 8127 2703 8127
2703 8156 2642 8156 2642 8161 2650 8172
2697 8193 2741 8194 2735 8104 2730 8103
2729 8100 2722 8097
TIME...MOT...LOC 2059Z 329DEG 10KT 2724 8135 2689 8173 2650 8163
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
TBWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
512 PM EDT MON APR 4 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM HAIL 2 NNE BABCOCK RANCH 26.97N 81.75W
04/04/2022 E0.70 INCH CHARLOTTE FL EMERGENCY MNGR
FDEM REPORT OF DIME TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL
NEAR BABCOCK RANCH.
&&
TBWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
546 PM EDT Mon Apr 4 2022
FLZ056-057-061-162-165-255-260-262-265-042245-
Coastal Charlotte FL-DeSoto FL-Inland Manatee FL-Highlands FL-
Inland Charlotte FL-Inland Lee FL-Inland Sarasota FL-Hardee FL-
Coastal Lee FL-
546 PM EDT Mon Apr 4 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Highlands, southern
Hardee, southeastern Manatee, Charlotte, DeSoto, Lee and southeastern
Sarasota Counties through 645 PM EDT...
At 545 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 9 miles southeast of Lake Istokpoga to 8 miles
southwest of Venus to 7 miles southwest of Felda. Movement was
east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Cape Coral, Fort Myers, North Port, Punta Gorda, Arcadia, Lake
Placid, Lehigh Acres, Port Charlotte, Lake Istokpoga, Palmona Park,
Southwest Florida Airport, Lochmoor Waterway Estates, Babcock Webb
Wma, Babcock Ranch, Pine Manor, Olga, Venus, Buckingham, Villas and
Sylvan Shores.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 2721 8116 2712 8117 2712 8127 2703 8127
2703 8156 2642 8156 2643 8183 2702 8218
2748 8216 2741 8113 2736 8103 2734 8105
2729 8100 2723 8098 2721 8094
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 293DEG 32KT 2725 8116 2701 8148 2649 8153
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
TBWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
553 PM EDT MON APR 4 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0519 PM HAIL 2 ESE LEHIGH ACRES 26.59N 81.61W
04/04/2022 E0.70 INCH LEE FL PUBLIC
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT OF DIME SIZE HAIL NEAR
LEHIGH ACRES. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
&&
TBWThe Tampa radar (KTBW), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:36 UTC.
2 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple golf ball hail reports near Sebring from NWS employee and trained spotters. Damage includes broken windows and punctured siding on homes along with shattered car windshields.
Multiple golf ball size hail reports near Avon Park from trained spotters.
Law enforcement relayed web cam capture of small, short-lived rope tornado. Power lines reported down in the area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Florida, 2022Warnings in Florida, April 2022
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: 1012565, 1012566, 1012567.