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Tag: Meteorologist Juli Marquez

  • Milton report highlights storm’s impacts on Bay area

    Milton report highlights storm’s impacts on Bay area

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The National Weather Service released its initial post Hurricane Milton report.

    The storm brought devastating impacts to the Bay area, including storm surge south of its eye, flash and river flooding and a trail of wind damage and power outages.


    According to the initial report, part of St. Pete saw more than 20 inches of rain during the storm and almost 19 inches of rain was recorded at Albert Whitted Airport.

    That shatters the previous 24-hour period record of 6.9 inches set back in 2001.

    Meanwhile, in the northwest Hillsborough County area of Westchase near Racetrack Road, an isolated maximum total of almost 19 inches was recorded.

    Wind gusts in our area ranged anywhere from 50 miles per hour in Citrus County to over 100 miles per hour in Pinellas and Sarasota counties.

    No description available.

    Maximum wind gusts of 102 miles per hour were recorded at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

    The NWS also tracked seven tornadoes in their coverage area in Highlands and Lee counties, but none in our viewing area. 

    Two EF-2 tornadoes were reported, one in Lee County and one in Highlands County. 

    Storm surge also hit mainly south of our area with water levels rising to an estimated 5 to 10 feet above mean high tide in parts of coastal Sarasota County. 

    A reverse storm surge occured in parts of Tampa Bay and north. 

    No description available.

    Surge was minimal north of Sarasota County. Coastal Charlotte County saw 4 to 8 feet of surge and coastal Lee County saw 3 to 6 feet of surge.

    These are just initial reports and we could see some minor changes and/or additions to these statistics when a final report is released next year. 

     

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    Meteorologist Kyle Hanson, Meteorologist Juli Marquez

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  • Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida seven years ago

    Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida seven years ago

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    Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida seven years ago today, on Sept. 10, 2017.

    What You Need To Know

    • It’s the seven-year anniversary of Irma

    • Irma made two landfalls in Florida

    • It was one of the costliest Atlantic hurricanes

    • There were 123 deaths in Florida because of Irma

    It all started with a tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic Ocean on Aug. 27, 2017.

    Irma became a hurricane and strengthened to a Category 5 in the Atlantic. At one point, Irma’s winds were 185 mph.

    Infrared satellite image of Hurricane Irma when it was at peak intensity. (NOAA)

    Irma made five landfalls in the Caribbean before making a turn toward Florida.

    On Sept. 10, 2017, Irma made landfall in Cudjoe Key as a Category 4 hurricane.

    It made its way up to Southwest Florida and made another landfall near Marco Island as a Category 3 hurricane, leaving damage behind in cities like Naples and Fort Myers.

    Then it gradually weakened and moved north toward the Tampa area. 

    Initially, the water levels in Tampa Bay dropped because of the strong offshore winds on the north side of Irma’s circulation. Many people were amazed that for a short period, the bay was dry.

    (Spectrum News)

    Even though Irma was weakening, it still brought damaging winds to our area into the morning hours of Sept. 11.

    The eye of Irma moved north through Polk County, then toward eastern Citrus County before moving to North Florida and Georgia.

    The Bay Area didn’t have any sustained hurricane-force winds, but there were wind gusts of 60 to 90 mph.

    (NWS Tampa)

    Power was out for weeks in some places.

    There were 21 confirmed tornadoes in Florida. While most of the tornadoes were on the east coast, an EF2 tornado hit Polk City.

    We had 5 to 15 inches of rain across the state.

    The highest rainfall totals occurred in the southwestern and eastern parts of the state where the strongest bands moved through. 

    A record 6.5 million Floridians evacuated ahead of Irma, and thousands headed to shelters.

    Irma was responsible for over 100 deaths in the United States. Most of the deaths happened in Florida.

    Damage in the U.S. because of Irma was estimated at $77.2 billion in 2017, equal to $98.4 billion in 2024.

    Track of Irma in Florida

    Irma moved up the western side of the Florida Peninsula and weakened from a Category 4 storm around Cudjoe Key to a Category 1 storm by the time it was just southeast of Tampa. 

    Peak wind gusts

    Irma brought wind gusts well over 100 mph in parts of southwest Florida, including a gust of 142 mph near Naples.

    (NWS Miami)

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Kyle Hanson

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  • Here’s why standing near a tree during a storm is dangerous

    Here’s why standing near a tree during a storm is dangerous

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    Unfortunately, August alone has tallied six lightning deaths in the United States. 

    What You Need To Know

    • August’s six lightning deaths brings the 2022 total to 14 so far

    • Some of the deaths happened when people were under or near a tree

    • Ground current affects a larger area than the strike itself

    (NOAA)

    It’s been a tragic month for lightning deaths, including a Central Florida woman who was killed by lightning while waiting for her daughter to get off the school bus. Reports say lightning hit a nearby tree. Earlier this month, three people near the White House were killed when lightning struck the tree they were under.

    Being under a tree is one of the leading causes of lightning casualties. But why is being under–or even near–a tree so dangerous?

    When lightning strikes a tree, the energy travels out along the ground’s surface. The ground current affects a larger area and can lead to multiple injuries or deaths.

    John Jensenius with the National Lightning Safety Council says the most recent multi-fatality incidents all have one feature in common: trees. 

    When it rains, don’t seek shelter under a tree. Find a building or a hard-topped vehicle and don’t wait until the last minute to seek shelter. Lightning can strike more than 10 miles away from a thunderstorm.

    If you can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck by lightning, even if it’s not raining where you are. 

    Remember: “When thunder roars, go indoors!”

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Juli Marquez

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  • Here’s why standing near a tree during a storm is dangerous

    Here’s why standing near a tree during a storm is dangerous

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Seven people have been killed in the U.S. this year by lightning and two of them have been in Florida. 

    Based on the past 10 years, the U.S. averages 12 lightning deaths through July 22.

    What You Need To Know

    • Seven people have been killed in the U.S. in 2024 by lightning and two of them have been in Florida

    • Some of the deaths happened when people were under or near a tree

    • Ground current affects a larger area than the strike itself


    A 19-year-old man was struck and killed Sunday, June 30 in Davie, Florida, while walking in a park.  He was under a tree when the lightning struck.  

    Florida leads the nation in lightning deaths, now with 90 since 2006, including the two this year.

    Both Florida lightning fatalities this year were related to walking in parks.  The National Lightning Safety Council offers these tips to people planning to go out for a walk.

    http://lightningsafetycouncil.org/Graphics/Tips-For-Walkers-And-Runners.png

    Being under a tree is one of the leading causes of lightning casualties. But why is being under–or even near–a tree so dangerous?

    When lightning strikes a tree, the energy travels out along the ground’s surface. The ground current affects a larger area and can lead to multiple injuries or deaths.

    John Jensenius with the National Lightning Safety Council says the most recent multi-fatality incidents all have one feature in common: trees. 

    When it rains, don’t seek shelter under a tree. Find a building or a hard-topped vehicle and don’t wait until the last minute to seek shelter. Lightning can strike more than 10 miles away from a thunderstorm.

    If you can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck by lightning, even if it’s not raining where you are. 

    Remember: “When thunder roars, go indoors!”

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Juli Marquez

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  • ‘Snow’ kidding! Looking back at the day it snowed in Tampa Bay

    ‘Snow’ kidding! Looking back at the day it snowed in Tampa Bay

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    On Jan. 19, 1977, Tampa Bay briefly became a winter wonderland. Or a winter nightmare, depending on your perspective.

    What You Need To Know

    • It snowed in Tampa Bay on Jan. 19, 1977

    • Parts of Tampa Bay had more than one inch of snow

    • For the first time on record, snowflakes fell in South Florida

    Forty-seven years ago, snow fell across the Sunshine State. There were reports of snow flurries as far south as Homestead and Miami Beach for the first time on record!

    An arctic front moved across Florida, bringing bitterly cold temperatures down the peninsula.

    Weather map at 7 a.m. ET on Jan. 19, 1977. (NOAA)

    Snow started late on Jan. 18. On the morning of Jan. 19, parts of Tampa Bay had more than an inch of snow.

    Kids were building snowmen and having snowball fights, and they didn’t want to go to school.

    But for adults trying to get to work, it was a dangerous drive.

    If you think driving in Florida is bad on a sunny day, imagine what it was like on icy roads!

    The snow didn’t last long.

    However, it was a rare sight and is an interesting part of Florida’s weather history. 

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Juli Marquez

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