A strong cold front moved across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay during the morning and afternoon of the 26th.  A squall line moved out ahead of the cold front, producing damaging thunderstorm wind gusts along the coastline.  The storms also produced a waterspout over the Tampa Bay that briefly went over Harbor Island as a tornado, back over the water as a waterspout, and finally back onshore in Tampa as a tornado.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in TAMPA BAY, GULF OF MEXICO
From 26-FEB-13 11:12:00 to 26-FEB-13 11:12:00 (EST-5)
Location: HILLSBOROUGH BAY
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

The PORTS site at Tampa Cruise Terminal 2 measured a 62 knot thunderstorm wind gust.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in TAMPA BAY, GULF OF MEXICO
From 26-FEB-13 11:05:00 to 26-FEB-13 11:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: MIDDLE TAMPA BAY
Magnitude: 38.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A mesonet site XTAM, 6 miles east of Saint Petersburg measured a 38 knot thunderstorm wind gust.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER FL OUT 20NM, GULF OF MEXICO
From 26-FEB-13 07:30:00 to 26-FEB-13 07:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: CEDAR KEY
Magnitude: 79.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

The NDBC C-MAN site at Cedar Key, CRDF1, measured a 79 knot thunderstorm wind gust.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON SPRINGS FL OUT 20NM, GULF OF MEXICO
From 26-FEB-13 09:05:00 to 26-FEB-13 09:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: LONGBOAT KEY
Magnitude: 36.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The KSRQ ASOS at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, recorded a 36 knot thunderstorm wind gust.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER FL OUT 20NM, GULF OF MEXICO
From 26-FEB-13 07:33:00 to 26-FEB-13 07:33:00 (EST-5)
Location: CEDAR KEY
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

The NOS C-MAN site at Cedar Key, MCKFY, measured a 64 knot thunderstorm wind gust.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER FL OUT 20NM, GULF OF MEXICO
From 26-FEB-13 07:35:00 to 26-FEB-13 07:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: CEDAR KEY
Magnitude: 45.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The Cedar Key fire chief reported widespread wind damage with numerous trees and power lines down as well as damage to docks and boats in several locations around Cedar Key.

Marine Thunderstorm Wind in TAMPA BAY, GULF OF MEXICO
From 26-FEB-13 11:19:00 to 26-FEB-13 11:19:00 (EST-5)
Location: HILLSBOROUGH BAY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Broadcast media estimated wind gusts of around 60 MPH on Harbor Island.

Waterspout in TAMPA BAY, GULF OF MEXICO
From 26-FEB-13 11:10:00 to 26-FEB-13 11:12:00 (EST-5)
Location: HILLSBOROUGH BAY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A SKYWARN Spotter photographed a waterspout over the Tampa Bay in the channel between Davis Island and Harbor Island.  The waterspout eventually crossed Harbor Island as a tornado and moved into the Channelside District.