Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Florida, August 4 to 5, 2024

Name: Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Florida, August 4 to 5, 2024
Start: 2024-08-04T06:00
End: 2024-08-05T18:00
Location: Florida

August 4 to 5, 2024 · NWS TBW · 28 events in 24 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 24 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 4
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 28

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS TBW wrote it up.

Hurricane Debby made landfall north of the local area along the Big Bend region of Florida near Steinhatchee around 7 AM EST on August 5th as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. Despite Debby’s track west of the Florida peninsula, impacts overspread the area from coastal locations spreading inland.|Storm surge affected the immediate coast from Ft. Myers northward through Cedar Key, where water levels peaked over 4 feet above normally dry ground across the upper Nature Coast and the Cedar Key area. Wind gusts of up to 60 to 70 mph affected much of the western Florida coast, with the strongest winds occurring along immediate coastal areas from around Tampa and St. Petersburg northward across Nature Coast locations, producing generally minor damage along with power outages. Torrential rainfall accompanied Debby as the rainbands east of its center moved across the area. Totals as high as 15 to 20 inches were reported, with hardest hit west-central and southwest Florida areas requiring numerous water rescues from flooded vehicles and homes as a result of extensive flash flooding and subsequent river flooding, and at least one official river gauge site established a new record crest. Multiple supercells embedded within outer rain bands east of Debby’s center produced at least 3 tornadoes across the area, however, associated damage remained relatively minor. |Debby’s overall impacts across the western Florida peninsula resulted in 2 direct fatalities and 3 indirect fatalities, with numerous homes and additional businesses receiving damage from freshwater flash and river flooding.

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 Aug 4, 1:26 AM EST, 4 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 1:26 AM EST, 4 hours 34 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
226 AM EDT Sun Aug 4 2024

...New DISCUSSION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER...

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 219 AM EDT Sun Aug 4 2024
Very little change to overall forecast philosophy for the next 24 to
36 hours as Tropical Storm Debby, which is currently just west of
the Dry Tortugas, is expected to track off the west coast of Florida
today and tonight nearly paralleling the coast, and strengthening as
it does. Forecast landfall is projected by NHC to be along the Big
Bend of Florida as a Cat 1 hurricane on Monday. Conditions across
west central and southwest Florida will continue to deteriorate
through the day from south to north as bands of showers and
isolated thunderstorms associated with Debby spread over the
region. The majority of the precip shield is expected to be in the
form of showers, however an isolated thunderstorm will be
possible in a few stronger bands, and weak surface heating over
the interior this afternoon may generate additional areas of
stronger convection.

Highest winds and heaviest precipitation totals are expected to
occur near the coast...with greatest impact expected across the
northern nature coast which will be in the closest proximity to the
center when the storm is expected to be at its strongest prior to
landfall. See local tropical products for specific regional impacts
expected with Debby across the forecast area and a list of active
watches/warnings at the end of this product. Also see related
tropical products issued from this office for additional
information.

As Debby exits the area Monday night and Tuesday, broad southwest
flow will persist off the Gulf of Mexico with feeder
bands/convergent boundaries feeding into the storm to the north.
This will create a significant risk for bands of locally heavy rain
to set-up across portions of the forecast areas with potential for
training convection creating locally excessive rainfall amounts.
The storm is expected to substantially slow it's forward motion
off the southeast Georgia coast...and the risk for these type of
bands of heavy rainfall may persist into Wednesday and possibly
into Thursday.

High degree of uncertainty in the extended portion of the forecast
since much will depend on the eventual track of Debby after it lifts
north of our area.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 136 AM EDT Sun Aug 4 2024

Conditions will deteriorate today with ESE winds gusting (if not
sustained) to tropical-storm force. This is most likely at coastal
sites like KSRQ, KPIE, and KTPA, but will be possible at any
terminal. The highest winds should be expected with passing
convective bands of moderate intensity or higher, and could be
higher than explicitly forecast in TAFs at this time. As
convection becomes widespread, MVFR will prevail, and tempo IFR
conditions will also be possible. Given the tropical, warm-core
nature of the system, there should be very few embedded
thunderstorms. While SWFL terminals could start to see some
improvement around or after 0Z, most terminals are not looking at
meaningful improvement before Monday morning. Slow improvement
should take place thereafter, with a wet pattern potentially
lingering for the days to come.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 219 AM EDT Sun Aug 4 2024
As Tropical Storm Debby approaches and tracks just west of the
waters today and tonight, conditions will continue to deteriorate
with increasing winds and significant building of seas. Hazardous
marine conditions are expected to develop which will persist into
Monday. Winds and seas will gradually subside Monday night and
Tuesday.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 219 AM EDT Sun Aug 4 2024
No fire weather hazards are expected as sufficient moisture will
keep minimum afternoon relative humidity values above critical
levels.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TPA  85  78  86  80 / 100  80  90  80
FMY  86  80  89  80 / 100  80  70  50
GIF  87  78  87  79 / 100  70  80  50
SRQ  86  79  89  80 / 100  80  90  80
BKV  87  77  87  78 / 100  80  90  80
SPG  86  82  89  83 / 100  80  90  80

&&

Sea Breeze Thunderstorm Regime For Sunday: 7
Sea Breeze Thunderstorm Regime For Monday: 5

For additional information on sea breeze regimes, go to:
     https://www.weather.gov/tbw/ThunderstormClimatology

&&

.TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...Flood Watch through Monday evening for Coastal Charlotte-Coastal
     Citrus-Coastal Hernando-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Lee-
     Coastal Levy-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Pasco-Coastal Sarasota-
     DeSoto-Hardee-Highlands-Inland Charlotte-Inland Citrus-
     Inland Hernando-Inland Hillsborough-Inland Lee-Inland Levy-
     Inland Manatee-Inland Pasco-Inland Sarasota-Pinellas-Polk-
     Sumter.

     Tropical Storm Warning for Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Citrus-
     Coastal Hernando-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Lee-Coastal
     Levy-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Pasco-Coastal Sarasota-Inland
     Citrus-Inland Hernando-Inland Hillsborough-Inland Levy-
     Inland Manatee-Inland Pasco-Inland Sarasota-Pinellas-
     Sumter.

     Storm Surge Watch for Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Hillsborough-
     Coastal Lee-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Pasco-Coastal Sarasota-
     Pinellas.

     Tropical Storm Watch for DeSoto-Hardee-Inland Charlotte-Inland
     Lee-Polk.

     Hurricane Watch for Coastal Levy-Inland Levy.

     Storm Surge Warning for Coastal Citrus-Coastal Hernando-Coastal
     Levy.

Gulf waters...Tropical Storm Warning for Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island
     Sound-Coastal waters from Bonita Beach to Englewood FL out
     20 NM-Coastal waters from Englewood to Tarpon Springs FL
     out 20 NM-Coastal waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee
     River FL out 20 NM-Tampa Bay waters-Waters from Bonita
     Beach to Englewood FL out 20 to 60 NM-Waters from Englewood
     to Tarpon Springs FL out 20 to 60 NM.

     Hurricane Watch for Coastal waters from Tarpon Springs to
     Suwannee River FL out 20 NM.

     Hurricane Warning for Waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee
     River FL out 20 to 60 NM.

&&

DISCUSSION/AVIATION/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...Oglesby
DECISION SUPPORT...Hubbard
UPPER AIR/CLIMATE...Flannery

The radar

The Tampa radar (KTBW), 132 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:27 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

24 tropical storm, 4 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tropical Storm, Coastal Lee

When: August 4, 6:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Lee forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 26.625, -81.849 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 45 to 55 mph, with a maximum gust of 55 mph at Tarpon Point at 5:27 PM EST on August 4. Rainfall ranged from 4 to 8 inches, with a maximum total of 8.11 inches near Fort Myers. A peak water level of 3.27 feet above MHHW was measured at Fort Myers at 3:30 PM EST on August 4. Peak water levels estimated elsewhere along coastal Lee County generally ranged from 2 to 4 feet above MHHW.

Tropical Storm, Inland Lee

When: August 4, 6:00 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Lee forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 26.625, -81.849 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Charlotte

When: August 4, 7:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Charlotte forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 26.900, -81.950 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 45 to 55 mph, with a maximum gust of 53 mph near Charlotte Harbor at 4:30 PM EST on August 4. Rainfall ranged from 4 to 8 inches, with a maximum total of 7.65 inches in extreme northern Charlotte County south of North Port. A peak water level of 3.81 feet above MHHW was measured at North Port Charlotte at 9:00 PM EST on August 4. Peak water levels estimated elsewhere along coastal Charlotte County generally ranged from 2 to 4 feet above MHHW.

Tropical Storm, Inland Charlotte

When: August 4, 7:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Charlotte forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 26.900, -81.950 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Sarasota

When: August 4, 7:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Sarasota forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.183, -82.365 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 50 to 60 mph, with a maximum gust of 54 mph near North Sarasota at 6:20 PM EST, and Venice at 8 PM EST, each on August 4. Rainfall ranged from 10 to 20 inches, with a maximum total of 17.78 inches near Sarasota. As a result of the rainfall, the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park reached a crest of 10.22 feet on August 9 at 6:00 AM EST, which is the 10th highest crest on record. Over 500 people were high-water rescued as a result of the flooding across the Pinecraft and Phillippi Creek neighborhoods, and areas along the Myakka River. A peak water level of 3.81 feet above MHHW was measured at North Port at 5:00 PM EST on August 4. Peak water levels measured elsewhere along coastal Sarasota County generally ranged from 2 to 4 feet above MHHW. A direct fatality occurred when a 67 year old male drove through the flood waters near Phillippi Creek and his vehicle was swept away and he drowned.

Tropical Storm, Inland Sarasota

When: August 4, 7:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Sarasota forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.183, -82.365 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Manatee

When: August 4, 7:00 AM EST to August 5, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Coastal Manatee forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.478, -82.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 55 to 65 mph, with a maximum gust of 64 mph at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport at 9:30 PM EST on August 4. Rainfall ranged from 10 to 20 inches, with a maximum total of 18.86 inches near Parrish. As a result of the rainfall, the Manatee River at Rye Bridge reached a record crest of 20.12 feet on August 5 at 8:15 PM EST, surpassing the previous record of 20 feet set on July 21, 1962. Over 200 people were high-water rescued as a result of the flooding across the Parrish and eastern Manatee County communities. A peak water level of 2.42 feet above MHHW was measured at Port Manatee at 2:48 AM EST on August 5. Peak water levels estimated elsewhere along coastal Manatee County generally ranged from 2 to 3 feet above MHHW.

Tropical Storm, Inland Manatee

When: August 4, 7:00 AM EST to August 5, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Inland Manatee forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.478, -82.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Hillsborough

When: August 4, 8:00 AM EST to August 5, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Coastal Hillsborough forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.906, -82.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 55 to 65 mph, with a maximum gust of 61 mph near Tampa Cruise Terminal at 12:48 AM EST on August 5. Rainfall ranged from 6 to 12 inches, with a maximum total of 12.05 inches near Sun City Center. A peak water level of 2.97 feet above MHHW was measured at Old Port Tampa at 3:06 AM EST, and East Bay at 4:36 AM EST, on August 5. Peak water levels measured elsewhere along coastal Hillsborough County generally ranged from 2 to 3 feet above MHHW.

Tropical Storm, Inland Hillsborough

When: August 4, 8:00 AM EST to August 5, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Inland Hillsborough forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.906, -82.347 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 55 to 65 mph, with a maximum gust of 61 mph near Tampa Cruise Terminal at 12:48 AM EST on August 5. Rainfall ranged from 6 to 12 inches, with a maximum total of 12.05 inches near Sun City Center. An indirect fatality occurred around 1:30 AM EST on August 5 when a 64 year old male semi-truck driver lost control on Interstate-75 on the wet roads near the Fowler Avenue exit, and went over the concrete barrier into the Tampa Bypass Canal and drowned.

Tropical Storm, Pinellas

When: August 4, 8:00 AM EST to August 5, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Pinellas forecast zone
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.903, -82.739 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 60 to 70 mph, with a maximum gust of 63 mph at Clearwater Beach at 9:30 PM EST, and St. Petersburg, Albert Whitted Airport at 10:47 PM EST, each on August 4. Rainfall ranged from 6 to 11 inches, with a maximum total of 10.33 inches observed near Brooker Creek Preserve. A peak water level of 2.62 feet above MHHW was measured at St. Petersburg at 3:18 AM EST on August 5. Peak water levels measured elsewhere along coastal Pinellas County generally ranged from 2 to 3 feet above MHHW. An indirect fatality occurred when a 48 year old male was found in his partially submerged sailboat in Boca Ciega Bay near Gulfport.

Tropical Storm, Coastal Pasco

When: August 4, 10:00 AM EST to August 5, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Coastal Pasco forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 28.307, -82.439 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 40 to 50 mph, with a maximum gust of 44 mph near Land o Lakes at 11:30 PM EST on August 4. Rainfall ranged from 6 to 10 inches, with a maximum total of 8.74 inches near Zephyrhills. A peak water level of 2.52 feet above MHHW was measured at New Port Richey at 3:00 AM EST on August 5. Peak water levels estimated elsewhere along coastal Pasco County generally ranged from 2 to 4 feet above MHHW.

Tropical Storm, Inland Pasco

When: August 4, 10:00 AM EST to August 5, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Inland Pasco forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 28.307, -82.439 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Coastal Hernando

When: August 4, 12:00 PM EST to August 5, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Coastal Hernando forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 28.556, -82.468 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 50 to 60 mph, with a maximum gust of 52 mph at Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport at 10:00 AM EST on August 5. Rainfall ranged from 5 to 10 inches, with a maximum total of 8.34 inches near Spring Hill. A peak water level of 3.41 feet above MHHW was measured at the mouth of the Chassahowitzka River at 6:30 AM EST on August 5. Peak water levels estimated elsewhere along coastal Hernando County generally ranged from 2 to 4 feet.

Tropical Storm, Inland Hernando

When: August 4, 12:00 PM EST to August 5, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Inland Hernando forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 28.556, -82.468 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Hardee

When: August 4, 12:25 PM EST to 12:26 PM EST
Where: Hardee County, 1.84 mi W of Bowling Green to 2.09 mi WNW of Bowling Green
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.48 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Continued into: Polk, Fl (TBW)
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 27.640, -81.850

A long-lived supercell embedded within an outer rainband associated with Tropical Storm Debby tracked north-northwestward across much of interior southwest Florida, including parts of Lee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties, before again exhibiting signs of increased organization as it moved west of Zolfo Springs in Hardee County around 12:08 EST. Continuing north-northwest, and despite a degrading radar presentation, the storm passed west of Bowling Green where a tornado was spotted and reported via a picture submitted by a NWS volunteer, around 12:25 EST. The tornado track continued into Polk County at 12:26 EST, where it would continue for approximately another two-thirds of a mile before dissipating north of County Line Rd. Maximum winds were estimated around 75 mph.

Tornado, Polk

When: August 4, 12:26 PM EST to 12:27 PM EST
Where: Polk County, 2.09 mi WNW of Bowling Green to 2.58 mi WNW of Bowling Green
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.69 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 27.646, -81.853

Continuation of the tornado track that originated in Hardee County after a long-lived supercell embedded within an outer rainband associated with Tropical Storm Debby tracked north-northwestward across much of interior southwest Florida, including parts of Lee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties, before a tornado was spotted west of Bowling Green and reported via a picture submitted by a NWS volunteer, around 12:25 EST. The tornado crossed into Polk County at 12:26 EST before it was estimated to have dissipated shortly thereafter north of County Line Rd, after traversing a mostly rural area. Maximum winds were estimated around 75 mph.

Tornado, Polk

When: August 4, 1:58 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where: Polk County, 3.2 mi SE of South Mulberry to 1.86 mi ESE of South Mulberry
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.52 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 27.850, -81.880

A supercell embedded within an outer rainband associated with Tropical Storm Debby began showing signs of increased organization around 13:40 EST as it moved north-northwest across southern Polk County between Bowling Green and Fort Meade. The storm continued exhibiting signs of increasing organization as it passed west of Fort Meade, before a NWS volunteer relayed video of a tornado associated with the storm around 13:58 EST just north of FL Hwy 640 near Agricola Rd. The volunteer relayed that the tornado continued on the ground for approximately 2 minutes before dissipating over open field after tracking around a mile and a half. No significant damage was reported, with likely only minor tree damage resulting from the tornado. Maximum winds were estimated around 75 mph.

Tropical Storm, Coastal Citrus

When: August 4, 4:00 PM EST to August 5, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Citrus forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 28.848, -82.520 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 50 to 60 mph, with a maximum gust of 53 mph near Crystal River at 8:00 AM EST on August 5. Rainfall ranged from 4 to 8 inches, with a maximum total of 6.99 inches near Floral City. A peak water level of 4.05 feet above MHHW was measured at the mouth of Crystal River at 11:00 AM EST on August 5. Peak water levels measured elsewhere along coastal Citrus County generally ranged from 3 to 5 feet.

Tropical Storm, Inland Citrus

When: August 4, 4:00 PM EST to August 5, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Citrus forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 28.848, -82.520 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm, Polk

When: August 4, 4:00 PM EST to August 5, 8:00 AM EST
Where: Polk forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.949, -81.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 40 to 50 mph, with a maximum gust of 41 mph at Winter Haven’s Gilbert Airport at 7:04 AM EST on August 5. Rainfall ranged from 4 to 8 inches, with a maximum total of 8.03 inches near Mulberry. A tornado was reported by a storm spotter near Bartow at 12:58 PM EST that lasted approximately 2 minutes before dissipating.

Tropical Storm, Coastal Levy

When: August 4, 5:00 PM EST to August 5, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Levy forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 29.282, -82.789 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 50 to 60 mph, with a maximum gust of 58 mph at Cedar Key at 12:48 AM EST on August 5. Rainfall ranged from 6 to 10 inches, with a maximum total of 9.67 inches near the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. A peak water level of 4.65 feet above MHHW was measured at Cedar Key at 5:18 AM EST on August 5. Peak water levels measured elsewhere along coastal Levy County generally ranged from 3 to 5 feet above MHHW.

Tropical Storm, Inland Levy

When: August 4, 5:00 PM EST to August 5, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Inland Levy forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 29.282, -82.789 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 50 to 60 mph, with a maximum gust of 58 mph at Cedar Key at 12:48 AM EST on August 5. Rainfall ranged from 6 to 10 inches, with a maximum total of 9.67 inches near the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. A direct fatality occurred when a tree fell onto a mobile home and crushed a 13 year old male inside.

Tornado, Pinellas

When: August 4, 5:50 PM EST to 5:53 PM EST
Where: Pinellas County, 0.1 mi WSW of Madeira Beach to 0.15 mi WNW of Oakhurst
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.18 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 27.799, -82.801

A supercell embedded within an outer rainband associated with Tropical Storm Debby produced a waterspout as it passed west of Treasure Island around 17:44 EST, that was captured on a nearby webcam. The waterspout continued northward, crossing the coast near Madeira Beach in Pinellas County around 17:50 EST, where residents reported minor damage to fencing and a trailer in the Boca Ciega Point community. Radar indicated the circulation weakened shortly thereafter with the tornado estimated to have dissipated around 17:53 EST southwest of Seminole. Maximum winds were estimated around 80 mph.

Tropical Storm, Sumter

When: August 4, 6:00 PM EST to August 5, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Sumter forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 28.705, -82.081 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 30 to 40 mph, with a maximum gust of 37 mph near Bushnell at 11:30 PM EST on August 4. Rainfall ranged from 4 to 8 inches, with a maximum total of 6.84 inches near Lady Panasoffkee.

Tropical Storm, Hardee

When: August 4, 7:00 PM EST to August 5, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Hardee forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.493, -81.810 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 30 to 40 mph,with a maximum gust of 37 mph near Wauchula at 2:00 AM EST on August 5. Rainfall ranged from 3 to 6 inches, with a maximum total of 4.25 inches near Wauchula. A trained spotter reported a tornado near Bowling Green at 11:25 AM EST on August 4.

Tropical Storm, De Soto

When: August 4, 7:00 PM EST to August 5, 3:00 AM EST
Where: De Soto forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.186, -81.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 30 to 40 mph, with a maximum gust of 34 mph near Arcadia at 2:10 AM EST on August 5. Rainfall ranged from 3 to 6 inches, with a maximum total of 5.46 inches near Arcadia.

Tropical Storm, Highlands

When: August 4, 7:00 PM EST to August 5, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Highlands forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 27.343, -81.341 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 30 to 40 mph, with a maximum gust of 43 mph at Sebring Regional Airport at 8:35 PM EST on August 4. Rainfall ranged from 2 to 5 inches, with a maximum total of 4.37 inches near Archbold.

The people who died

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
Tropical Storm, Coastal Charlotte	2024-08-04			Outside/Open Areas	Indirect
Tropical Storm, Coastal Sarasota	2024-08-04	67	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct
Tropical Storm, Inland Hillsborough	2024-08-05	64	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect
Tropical Storm, Pinellas	2024-08-05	48	Male	Boating	Indirect
Tropical Storm, Inland Levy	2024-08-05	13	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct

What these are

Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph).
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2024 Every state in 2024 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Florida, 2024 Warnings in Florida, August 2024 The 2024 hurricane season

Sources

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: 1214850, 1214851, 1214848, 1214849, 1214853, 1214854, 1214855, 1214856, 1214857, 1214858, 1214860, 1214862, 1214865, 1214866, 1214867, 1224074, 1225281, 1224073, 1214868, 1214869, 1214873, 1214870, 1214871, 1224075, 1214877, 1214874, 1214875, 1214876.