ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It was only a matter of time before some great weather gave way to some showers and storms, with a few of them on the bumpier side.
And unfortunately, one person was killed and at least one was injured in the damage brought by the storms that swept through Tampa Bay this weekend.
Latest updates:
7:45 p.m.: Tampa International Airport says due to severe weather in the area, it is experiencing widespread delays and cancellations. The airport asks anyone flying today to check their flight status with the airline before going to the airport.
4 p.m.: All severe thunderstorm watches have expired.
2:59 p.m.: The severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee and Sarasota counties. It has been canceled elsewhere as the severe weather threat has passed.
2:49 p.m.: The Florida Highway Patrol reports a 17-year-old woman was electrocuted from a downed power line in Spring Hill. Earlier, the Hernando County fire chief said it involved a 20-year-old woman.
Troopers say the teen crashed her car into a power line that had fallen from a downed tree. The car caught fire on its driver's side, prompting the girl to exit out the passenger side of the car.
She stepped onto the downed power line, which electrocuted her, FHP said.
2:39 p.m.: Since most of the Tampa Bay region has been dry lately, the ground has been able to absorb a lot of water. However, some places haven't been able to soak up much of the torrential rainfall.
2:23 p.m.: TECO is reporting at least 12,170 customers without power, while Duke Energy says it's dealing with 6,200 customers -- most in Pinellas County.
2:15 p.m.: The severe thunderstorm warning for Highlands County has been allowed to expire.
2:07 p.m.: The Lake Wire Inn on N. Florida Avenue in Lakeland was damaged as storms moved through.
1:47 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 2:15 for Highlands County. The National Weather Service warns storms could contain 60-mph gusts and quarter-sized hail.
1:45 p.m.: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announces it will close at 3 p.m. due to weather. It will reopen at 10 a.m. Monday.
1:30 p.m.: The severe thunderstorm warning earlier in effect for Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee and Polk counties has been allowed to expire.
1:13 p.m.: The severe thunderstorm watch has been canceled for Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties. The risk of strong to severe storms has lessened.
1:10 p.m.: More than 8,200 Duke Energy customers and 13,700 TECO customers are without power following today's storms.
1:01 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 1:30 p.m. for parts of Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee and Polk counties. The National Weather Service warns of 60-mph winds and penny-sized hail.
12:51 p.m.: A 20-year-old woman is believed to have been electrocuted when she tried to get out of her car after a tree and power lines fell on top of it, authorities said.
It happened on Evenglow Avenue, according to the Hernando County fire chief.
12:46 p.m.: In addition to Duke Energy customers, at least 12,800 TECO customers are without power in Tampa Bay.
12:44 p.m.: Watch for localized flooding across much of the Bay area. Some ponding was seen in St. Petersburg.
12:30 p.m.: The roof over Rum Runners in Palm Harbor was damaged as storms moved through.
12:30 p.m.: More than 6,800 Duke Energy customers are without power in Pasco and Pinellas counties.
12:12 p.m.: East and westbound State Road 52 at U.S. Highway 41 are blocked to traffic with power lines down.
12:10 p.m.: More than 5,800 Duke Energy customers are without power, according to the utility's outage map.
12:08 p.m.: Strong storms brought down tree branches in Palm Harbor.
11:56 a.m.: Duke Energy reports more than 2,500 customers are without power in Pasco County as the line of strong storms moved through. More than 1,720 people are in the dark in Pinellas County.
11:40 a.m.: The thunderstorm warning has been canceled for Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The storms that prompted the warning have weakened.
11:39 a.m.: A burst of high winds and heavy rain came through the Palm Harbor area.
11:32 a.m.: Wind-driven rains blows through Clearwater.
11:09 a.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until noon for Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The National Weather Service warns 60-mph wind gusts and nickel size hail are possible with these storms.
The previous story is below.
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The Storm Prediction Center issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 4 p.m. for the Tampa Bay region, including Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. Those watches were allowed to expire.
Damaging wind gusts to 75 mph, ping-pong-sized hail and a tornado or two are possible with any storm that turns severe. An area of showers and storms became more organized and work its way into the region late Sunday morning into the afternoon hours.
Widespread 1-2 inches of rain will be likely, with localized flooding possible, especially in those areas that are slow to dry out during a typical summertime thunderstorm.
A computer model radar image shows a line of strong storms pressing into the area from the Gulf of Mexico as early as 11 a.m.
Much of central Florida was highlighted with an enhanced risk of severe storms -- a level three out of five scale.
Saturday evening, several Tampa Bay counties saw severe thunderstorm warnings issued. In Bradenton, Manatee County Emergency Management says 20 homes were damaged, five of which had heavy wind damage with parts of roofs ripped off. One person was injured.
The National Weather Service says the damage was likely caused by straight-line damaging winds.
The 10 Tampa Bay weather team will have an eye on the radar all weekend. Keep the 10 Tampa Bay app close by, so you can be alerted to any severe weather watches or warnings this weekend.
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