Thunderstorms associated with a cold front moving across the Florida peninsula produce multiple funnel clouds; one northwest of Brooksville in Hernando County, and another south of Zephyrhills in Pasco 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 associated with a cold front moving across the Florida peninsula produce multiple funnel clouds; one northwest of Brooksville in Hernando County, and another south of Zephyrhills in Pasco 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 Mar 16, 2:00 PM EST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
300 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER...
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 257 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
Synoptic, non-convective winds out ahead of the line of storms today
have been impressive with a few areas gusting over 40mph. The storms
moving over the nature coast currently have remained below severe
criteria. However, the severe threat has not completely diminished
and the possibility of damaging winds and a couple tornadoes
still exists. Frequent lightning, heavy rainfall, and gusty winds
have already been observed as these storms move onshore. Remain
vigilant as this line of storms continues south. The threat will
lessen as it moves over southwest Florida later tonight.
Tomorrow a surface high will build back into the area as the
remaining frontal boundary pushes out. Winds will remain elevated as
the pressure gradient between these features remains tight. Dry
air will also filter in dropping dew points and humidity which
will increase the fire threat for the area. Temperatures will also
briefly drop with many waking up in the 40s again on Tuesday
morning. However the 80s return by mid week. Another, weak frontal
system moves over the area Thursday, but is expected to come and
go without much notice besides an increase in winds and a dip in
temperature and dew points.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 257 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
The line of storms continues its progress south. Storms still
expected to reach TPA/PIE between 21-23Z then move further south as
the evening progresses. Behind the line conditions clear and winds
decrease briefly for a few hours overnight before increasing in the
early morning out of the NW. Otherwise VFR prevails behind the
front.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 257 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
Hazardous marine conditions expected as a line of storms continues
to move over the waters and winds remain elevated through Tuesday
afternoon. Small craft advisory and rip current statements remain in
place for the duration.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 257 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
Fire weather concerns will increase tomorrow as dry air moves
through and winds remain elevated. Dry air sticks around through
Wednesday, however winds will decrease Tuesday and remain low
Wednesday.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TPA 59 66 51 77 / 40 0 0 0
FMY 64 73 49 80 / 40 0 0 0
GIF 59 70 47 77 / 70 0 0 0
SRQ 60 68 52 78 / 50 0 0 0
BKV 52 66 41 78 / 30 0 0 0
SPG 61 66 55 75 / 40 0 0 0
&&
.TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk through Tuesday morning for Coastal
Charlotte-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Lee-Coastal Manatee-
Coastal Sarasota-Pinellas.
Gulf waters...Small Craft Advisory until 8 AM EDT Tuesday 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-
Waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 to
60 NM.
&&
DISCUSSION/AVIATION/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...Pearce
DECISION SUPPORT...GiarratanaSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
1112 AM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
FLZ139-239-161545-
Coastal Levy FL-Inland Levy FL-
1112 AM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT LEVY COUNTY THROUGH 1145 AM
EDT...
At 1111 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles southwest of Fowlers Bluff, or 21 miles southwest of Chiefland,
moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Lebanon, Bronson, Otter Creek, Fowlers Bluff, Chiefland, Williston
Highlands, Manattee Road, East Bronson, and Andrews.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 300 PM EDT for northern
Florida.
&&
LAT...LON 2929 8316 2932 8314 2932 8312 2935 8306
2936 8307 2937 8307 2940 8302 2942 8303
2946 8300 2956 8274 2957 8269 2922 8247
2921 8254 2911 8254 2902 8285 2911 8293
2904 8309 2917 8317
TIME...MOT...LOC 1511Z 252DEG 49KT 2928 8313
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
TBWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
1145 AM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
FLZ139-239-161630-
Coastal Levy FL-Inland Levy FL-
1145 AM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT LEVY COUNTY THROUGH 1230 PM
EDT...
At 1144 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Chiefland, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 45 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Williston Highlands, East Bronson, Otter Creek, Andrews, Chiefland,
Williston Municipal Airport, Manatee Springs State Park, Manattee
Road, Lebanon, Bronson, Williston, Fowlers Bluff, and Fanning
Springs.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 300 PM EDT for northern
Florida.
&&
LAT...LON 2929 8316 2932 8314 2932 8312 2935 8306
2937 8307 2940 8302 2954 8298 2959 8294
2957 8266 2954 8265 2954 8256 2948 8255
2948 8241 2922 8241 2922 8253 2916 8254
2908 8290 2911 8294 2906 8305 2923 8317
TIME...MOT...LOC 1544Z 252DEG 45KT 2940 8282
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
TBWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
124 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1236 PM Marine Tstm Wind 1 SSE Cedar Key 29.14N 83.03W
03/16/2025 M34 MPH GMZ850 FL Buoy
Buoy station CKYF1 Cedar Key, FL.
&&
TBWPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
128 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0102 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WNW Feather Sound 27.91N 82.69W
03/16/2025 M47 MPH Pinellas FL ASOS
ASOS station KPIE St Pete-Clearwater Intl.
1204 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 S Whitfield 27.40N 82.57W
03/16/2025 M44 MPH Manatee FL ASOS
ASOS station KSRQ Sarasota Bradenton Intl.
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
403 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
FLZ142-148-242-248-162030-
Coastal Citrus FL-Inland Hernando FL-Coastal Hernando FL-
Inland Citrus FL-
403 PM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN CITRUS AND
NORTHWESTERN HERNANDO COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM EDT...
At 403 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Pine Island, or 11 miles northwest of Spring Hill, moving northeast
at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Chassahowitzka Refuge, Royal Highlands, Chassahowitzka, Homosassa
Springs, Green Acres, Lake Lindsey, Leisure Acres, Weeki Wachee
Gardens, Glen Lakes, Pine Island, North Weeki Wachee, Sugarmill
Woods, Homosassa, Lecanto, and Brookridge.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 500 PM EDT for west central
Florida.
&&
LAT...LON 2886 8254 2878 8238 2862 8235 2849 8268
2855 8275 2864 8277
TIME...MOT...LOC 2003Z 232DEG 31KT 2860 8267
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
TBWThe Tampa radar (KTBW), 103 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:29 UTC.
2 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Trained spotter on the Suncoast Parkway near Brooksville reported a funnel cloud about 7 to 8 miles north of their location, but could not visually confirm whether or not the funnel made it to the ground.
Public reported a funnel cloud near Zephyrhills.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, March 2025
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: 1234441, 1234442.