Tropical Storm — Coastal Hillsborough, Florida

2024-08-04 to 2024-08-05 · Coastal Hillsborough, Florida

Event narrative

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.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1214857. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.