High pressure was ridging across northern Florida keeping east to southeast winds in place across the local area. An afternoon sea breeze developed and combined with the east coast sea breeze to form several severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds around the Tampa Bay area in the early evening hours.

Thunderstorm Wind in PINELLAS, FLORIDA
From 06-JUL-08 17:58:00 to 06-JUL-08 17:58:00 (EST-5)
Location: ST PETE A WHITTED AR
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A tree was blown down and blocked the road on Fourth Street North near Sixth Avenue.

Lightning in HILLSBOROUGH, FLORIDA
From 06-JUL-08 17:30:00 to 06-JUL-08 17:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: BEACH PARK
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Lightning struck a gas line which sparked a smoldering fire behind a stove in an apartment on the 3300 block of West De Leon Street.

Hail in HILLSBOROUGH, FLORIDA
From 06-JUL-08 17:10:00 to 06-JUL-08 17:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: TAMPA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Nickel size hail was reported at Exit 41C on Interstate 275 in Tampa.

Hail in HILLSBOROUGH, FLORIDA
From 06-JUL-08 17:10:00 to 06-JUL-08 17:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: BEACH PARK
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Quarter size hail was reported along West Kennedy Boulevard near Henderson Boulevard.

Hail in HILLSBOROUGH, FLORIDA
From 06-JUL-08 17:21:00 to 06-JUL-08 17:21:00 (EST-5)
Location: GROVE PARK ESTATES
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Nickel size hail was reported near Town 'N' Country.

Hail in PASCO, FLORIDA
From 06-JUL-08 18:26:00 to 06-JUL-08 18:26:00 (EST-5)
Location: LOYCE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Penny size hail was reported along County Line Road west of the Suncoast Parkway.

Heavy Rain in PINELLAS, FLORIDA
From 06-JUL-08 18:00:00 to 06-JUL-08 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ST PETE A WHITTED AR
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A police cruiser was stuck in deep water at the intersection of Fourth Avenue South and First Street.

Hail in HILLSBOROUGH, FLORIDA
From 06-JUL-08 17:14:00 to 06-JUL-08 17:14:00 (EST-5)
Location: BEACH PARK
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Golf ball size hail was reported at the intersection of West Cypress Street and North Bradford Avenue.

Lightning in HILLSBOROUGH, FLORIDA
From 06-JUL-08 17:35:00 to 06-JUL-08 17:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: RATTLESNAKE
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Lightning struck an apartment building on the 6300 block of South Mac Dill Avenue and started a fire which heavily damaged two units. Water used to put out the fire damaged another two units.

Thunderstorm Wind in PINELLAS, FLORIDA
From 06-JUL-08 17:58:00 to 06-JUL-08 17:58:00 (EST-5)
Location: ST PETE A WHITTED AR
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A spotter measured a wind gust over 60 MPH near Tropicana Field with a hand-held anemometer.

Heavy Rain in HILLSBOROUGH, FLORIDA
From 06-JUL-08 17:00:00 to 06-JUL-08 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: TAMPA
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

FHP reported that Interstate 275 at Exit 42, Howard-Armenia, was blocked by 3 feet of water for an hour.