Thunderstorm Wind — Volusia, Florida

2010-08-22 · near De Land Muni Arpt, Volusia, Florida

Event narrative

Weather likely played an indirect role in a vehicle-related fatality in DeLand. Saturated ground existed across the area due to several previous days of localized heavy rainfall. Between 1400 and 1500 LST, a thunderstorm moved southwest across DeLand, resulting in a quick two inches of additional rain and wind gusts to around 30 mph. These conditions combined with the pre-existing saturated ground, likely weakened and helped topple a large pine tree. A moving pickup truck was hit by the falling tree, then ran off the shoulder of the road as the driver lost control. The woman passenger was killed and the driver, her husband, was critically injured.

Wider weather episode

Saturated grounds from previous rains, along with recent heavy rain and 30 mph wind gusts from a thunderstorm passing 30 minutes earlier, caused a large pine tree to topple as a vehicle was traveling beneath, resulting in a fatality.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (29.0730, -81.2551)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 243588. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.