An upper level disturbance moving across the state atop moist southerly low-level flow enabled the development of thunderstorms that produced severe hail near Lehigh Acres in Lee County.
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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 TBW wrote it up.
An upper level disturbance moving across the state atop moist southerly low-level flow enabled the development of thunderstorms that produced severe hail near Lehigh Acres in Lee 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 May 24, 11:56 AM EST, 2 hours 54 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 1256 PM EDT Sat May 24 2025 ...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER... .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1255 PM EDT Sat May 24 2025 Weather pattern remains like a broken record. High pressure at the surface coupled with ridging aloft will keep temperatures above average and some heat indices in the triple digits. Afternoon showers and storms will begin to develop along the sea breeze boundaries this afternoon, mainly over the interior and south of I4. Instability mixed with cold mid level temperatures increases the risk for hail in any storm that develops. With this increased risk of hail, the SPC has placed areas of south of I4 in a marginal risk (1 of 5) for severe thunderstorms this afternoon. This pattern lingers into next week. However, the risk for hail and severe storms will begin to diminish as upper level temperatures begin to warm up. Rain is definitely welcome, given most of the area is still in severe to extreme drought conditions. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1255 PM EDT Sat May 24 2025 VFR conditions prevail. Light flow turns more onshore in the afternoon as the sea breeze develops. Some showers and storms expected later this afternoon especially in the interior and SWFL. && .MARINE... Issued at 1255 PM EDT Sat May 24 2025 Winds remain below 10kts for the next few days with an increase each afternoon as the sea breeze develops and pushes onshore. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1255 PM EDT Sat May 24 2025 Overall, no major fire weather concerns as moisture continues to increase. Winds remain light and rain chances increase in the afternoon along sea breeze boundaries. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 77 91 78 93 / 20 60 20 50 FMY 73 93 75 92 / 30 60 30 60 GIF 72 94 73 93 / 30 70 20 70 SRQ 74 90 75 91 / 20 60 30 50 BKV 67 93 68 93 / 10 60 20 50 SPG 77 90 78 90 / 20 50 30 40 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. Gulf waters...None. && DISCUSSION/AVIATION/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...Pearce DECISION SUPPORT...Carlisle
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
243 PM EDT Sat May 24 2025
FLZ265-241915-
Inland Lee FL-
243 PM EDT Sat May 24 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN LEE COUNTY THROUGH 315
PM EDT...
At 242 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Lehigh Acres, moving north at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Fort Myers Shores, Olga, Lehigh Acres, Gateway, Alva, Buckingham,
Charleston Park, North Fort Myers, and Fort Myers.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 2672 8182 2677 8165 2677 8156 2642 8156
2642 8166 2636 8166
TIME...MOT...LOC 1842Z 162DEG 19KT 2652 8159
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
TBWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Ruskin FL
312 PM EDT Sat May 24 2025
FLZ265-241945-
Inland Lee FL-
312 PM EDT Sat May 24 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN LEE COUNTY THROUGH
345 PM EDT...
At 311 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Lehigh Acres, moving north at 10 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...
Alva, Olga, Lehigh Acres, Charleston Park, and Buckingham.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 2670 8175 2674 8157 2648 8156 2646 8164
TIME...MOT...LOC 1911Z 166DEG 10KT 2656 8157
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
TBWThe Tampa radar (KTBW), 141 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:50 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Broadcast media relayed public video of hailstones approximately 1 inch in diameter falling at residence near 15th Street and Joel Boulevard.
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, May 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: 1267944.