Volusia County

January

11 1993 - l750 - l820 - Volusia Co., Edgewater - strong downburst winds damaged 9 mobile homes. Trees and power lines down, awnings, carports, and family rooms ripped away. Golf ball size hail reported.

12 1964 - morning hours - Central Florida - Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms associated with a vigorous squall line struck Duval, Marion, Polk, Volusia, Lake Counties. Many trees uprooted and antennas and signs blown down. Some damage occurred to windows and commercial buildings. No serious injuries.

21 1988 - 1045-1050 - Lake Co. - Severe Thunderstorm winds flipped over an airplane in Leesburg. At Umatilla high wind overturned 4 trailers causing 5 injuries. 27 trailers were damaged. 1115 - Volusia Co. - Tornado struck Ormond Beach destroying a home and downing trees and powerlines. 3 people were injured at a lumber company.

21-22 l989 - Brevard, Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns and Indian River Counties - High Winds - A gale center that exhibited subtropical storm characteristics formed in the coastal waters east of Canaveral then moved slowly northeast. Sustained winds of 40 to 50 mph with gusts near 75 mph downed many trees, signs and power lines, and caused window and roof damage to several homes. High waves caused moderate beach erosion. Tens of thousands of homes were without electric power for up to l2 hours. Rainfall amounts of 4" to 6" caused ponding of water in low- lying areas, which damaged several homes and motels and caused many traffic accidents.

February

8 l986 - afternoon - Central Florida - Severe Weather Outbreak -A tornado near Bartow, Polk County, severely damaged l4 homes and caused minor damage to six others. A tornado overturned a mobile home in Hudson, Pasco County, and another tornado occurring from Volusia to Pierson in Volusia County damaged a campground, then moved on to damage fern- growing sheds and cause injury to a man when a branch fell on his mobile home. In Bradenton, Manatee County, a tornado hit a flea market, severely injuring a man and slightly injuring three others. Twenty cars were damaged by high winds on the Pinellas County coast. A firefighter was injured in Manatee County when lightning struck nearby. Many reports of 0.75 inch in diameter hail were received. A boat was overturned on Lake Kissimmee by high wind and its occupant drowned.

22-23 1998 - Central Florida - During the late night and early morning hours of 22-23 February 1998 (Sunday - Monday), the most devastating tornado outbreak ever to occur in the state of Florida, in terms of both loss of life and property damage, occurred within the county warning area of the Melbourne (MLB) National Weather Service Office (NWSO). Forty-two people died as a result of the tornadoes and more than 260 others were injured. Over 3,000 structures were damaged, and more than 700 were completely destroyed. Damage was estimated in excess of $100 million. A total of seven confirmed tornadoes occurred that night. Four of the tornadoes were unusually long-lived and produced damage tracks of between 8 and 38 miles, resulting in the majority of damage and all fatalities. Uncommon among Florida tornadoes, the estimated wind speed for three of these twisters reached 200 mph which is on the high end of F3 intensity on the Fujita scale. Although this event was of historical proportion the number of fatalities could have been significantly higher if these killer tornadoes were not accurately forecast, detected, and then warned for in a timely and professional manner.

March

2 1994 - morning-afternoon - central and south Florida - Severe thunderstorms ahead of a strong low pressure system and cold front spread over the peninsula. Tornadoes were reported in Polk, Charlotte, Collier, Broward, and Monroe Counties. Severe thunderstorm winds were reported in Sarasota, Pinellas, Polk, Volusia, Highlands, St. Lucie, Dade, and Duval Counties. The tornadoes were weak and thunderstorm wind gusts were in the 55 to 65 mph range. As a result there was no widespread property damage. The only injuries occurred in Collier Co. when a weak tornado rolled an unanchored mobile home injuring a man and woman inside. The woman was hospitalized.

3 l99l - Morning to Afternoon - Statewide - Severe Weather Outbreak. Many severe thunderstorms and at least 8 tornadoes struck from Apalachicola to West Palm Beach as an intense squall line ahead of a cold front swept across the State. 34 severe storm reports were received, but property damage was minor. This outbreak is noteworthy because the only injury was caused by 2.5" hail that crashed through the window of a car, knocking the driver unconscious in Volusia County at Ormond by the Sea. This is believed to be the only serious injury from hail in Florida since l959.

13 l993 - 0030 - Lake County, Mt. Dora - Tornado - A small fast-moving tornado touched down near Howey-in-the-Hills and moved northeast striking Mt. Dora and continued northeast until dissipating in Volusia County. A 5-month old baby boy was killed in a mobile home l0 miles northeast of Mt. Dora at 0050 EST. The mobile home was destroyed and two adults in it were seriously injured. In all l3 homes were destroyed, 80 suffered major damage and 266 reported minor damage.

17 1995 - 0430 - Volusia Co., Daytona Beach - A Canadian tourist who had been swimming with two friends drowned in a rip current behind the La Playa Cocktail Lounge.

3l l939 - 0730 - Volusia Co., Daytona Beach - Tornado unroofed a house injuring 3, then moved out to sea.

31 l994 - l750 - Volusia Co., Ormond Beach - Strong winds produced rip currents that drowned a boy visiting from Louisiana.

April

5 l974 - Noon - Volusia Co., Daytona Beach Shores - Lightning killed a visitor from Canada while standing on the beach.

11 l975 - morning - afternoon - north and central Florida - Flash Floods and Tornadoes - Heavy rain of 4 to 6" in a few hours caused local flash flooding in Jacksonville and Marion and Lake Counties. Tornadoes were reported in Putnam, Marion, Volusia(2), Lake, Brevard, Escambia, Walton, and Polk Counties between 1030 and 1830 causing primarily roof, tree and car damage. The only one minor injury occurred from a tornado at Merritt Island, Brevard Co.

l4 l975 - afternoon - Escambia Co., Pensacola - A Tornado moved into the western portion of Pensacola collapsing a 200 foot section of a furniture store wall, tearing the roof off a house, and damaging several other homes. Several small tornadoes were also reported in Walton, Polk, and Volusia Counties causing only minor damage.

l8 l945 - 2100 - Volusia County - A tornado was accompanied by hail as large as guinea eggs.

18 l978 -l845 - Volusia Co., Ormond Beach - A tornado rolled a large mobile home 200 ft and destroyed it. Several homes had roof damage.

23 l983 - morning to afternoon - Severe weather outbreak across north central Florida. Eleven tornadoes and l2 other severe thunderstorms struck from the big bend area to Jacksonville and Orlando, injuring 9 and causing considerable property damage. A tornado destroyed a 2-story beach house at Alligator Point in Franklin Co., and fifty mobile homes were damaged at Shell Point in Wakulla Co. Two people were injured when thunderstorm winds overturned a trailer at Mayo in Lafayette Co. A tornado struck Bell in Gilchrist Co., destroying several mobile homes and injuring 4. A tornado destroyed a brick home at Fort White in Columbia Co. Other tornadoes were reported in Bradford, Union, Duval, Clay, Marion, Lake, Volusia, and Orange Counties during the early afternoon.

26 1995 - Volusia Co., New Symrna Beach - A 74-year old male resident of Deltona drowned in a rip current.

May

3 1994 - afternoon - Statewide - Twenty-six reports of severe weather, including severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, large hail, funnel clouds and waterspouts from the Panhandle to the Keys. The most significant event occurred in Volusia Co. at Ormond Beach - a Tornado touched down at intersection of I-95 and Highway 40 in northern Volusia Co. It moved east, producing minor damage. The tornado intensified when it passed over the Holiday Village mobile home park just west of Ormond Beach, where it damaged 125 and destroyed 150 mobile homes. No serious injuries. Damage estimated near $10 million. The only injuries for the day occurred at St. Lucie in Martin Co., where two firefighters were sent to the hospital after lightning struck the side of their truck while they were fighting a brush fire started by lightning. The largest hail, up to 3", was reported in Palm Beach County.

8 l979 - morning-afternoon - Central Florida - Tornado Outbreak/Heavy Rain/Floods - A low pressure system in the eastern Gulf of Mexico spawned waves of tornadic thunderstorms with excessive rainfall. Widespread damage occurred in the Tampa Bay area. The 19 tornadoes reported are the most in one day in Florida history. 3 people drowned in Pinellas County where flooding was most severe. Rainfall amounts of 18 inches in 24 hours were reported. Tornadoes damaged homes, mobile homes, businesses, 4 schools, power lines, and trees. Worst hit was the Polk Co. community of Auburndale where a tornado made a direct hit on the Auburndale School. Only 8 students were hurt by flying debris. An 83 year old woman was killed as she hid in an unreinforced concrete block storage shed. 98 trailers were damaged or destroyed and 40 people were injured. Other, less intense, tornadoes struck Pasco, Hernando, Volusia, Citrus, St. Lucie, Duval, Desoto and Charlotte Counties. Later, on the evening of the 8th, rain over 5" flooded homes and businesses in eastern Indian River Co.

8 l986 - l500 - Volusia Co. - Lightning killed a 59-year old man poling a small boat to shore. It was not raining at the time.

14 l99l - l330 - Volusia Co., New Smyrna Beach - Lightning killed a man and injured another while they walked on the beach.

23 1976 - Morning - central Florida - Subtropical Storm spawned 3 tornadoes. A tornado in Tampa injured 2 in mobile homes. Other, weaker tornadoes hit Marion and Volusia Counties.

June

l0 l953 - afternoon - Suwannee Co., McAlpin - Tornado destroyed a store and damaged six homes, injuring 1. Hail to egg and ice-cube size also fell causing heavy crop damage. Hail reported in Jefferson, Madison, Columbia, Lafayette, Alachua, Duval and Volusia Counties.

l7-l8 l982 - statewide - A subtropical storm moved from the southeast Gulf of Mexico, northeast across the central Florida Peninsula into the Atlantic causing at least 12 tornadoes, high winds, extensive beach erosion along the west coast, and heavy rain that flooded rivers and urban areas. From Tampa Bay to Naples some waterfront building suffered damage from undermining and damage to marinas and small boats was widespread. Heavy rains caused flooding of six rivers and creeks in west central Florida. On the Manatee River, 20 families were evacuated. The Peace River crested a week after the storm causing the evacutation of 130 families. A l l/2 year old boy drowned in a flooded drainage ditch, and a Brevard Co. woman drowned when her canoe turned over, her 4 year old son was rescued after clinging to the canoe for 6 hours. Twelve tornadoes were reported between the morning of the 17th and the morning of the 18th from Dade and Broward Counties to Polk and Volusia Counties. On the evening of the 17th a tornado destroyed 5 trailers and 2 cars in northwest Hendry County, killing a man in a trailer and seriously injuring his wife. In Glades Co. five more trailers, a cabin, and a camper were destroyed by the same tornado injuring three people. Another tornado moved through the Lake Josephine area in Highlands County destroying 23 homes and mobile homes and damaging many more, injuring 9 people. The ten other tornadoes caused much property damage, but no deaths or serious injuries.

26 1956 - afternoon - Calhoun Co., Altha - Lightning killed a woman seeking shelter under a tree. Lake County - Lightning killed a man operating a tractor. A woman was also seriously injured by lightning in Jacksonville. Thunderstorms with heavy rain caused street flooding in Deland in Volusia County.

29 l964 - afternoon - Volusia Co., Daytona Beach - Lightning killed a person and injured 2.

July

3 1992 - 2200 - Volusia County, Daytona Beach - Rogue Wave - A 27-mile-long wave rolled onto the Volusia County Beach at around 2300 EST. The wave's extent was from Ormond Beach on the north, to New Smyrna Beach on the south. The crest was l8 feet high and centered at Daytona Beach. Sailboats crashed ashore onto cars and many people suffered cuts and bruises from glass and debris. Two people required hospitalization and 200 vehicles were damaged. 75 injuries reported.

4 l970 - l4l5 - Volusia Co., Ormond Beach - Lightning struck a lifeguard - he died July l0.

l2 l97l - evening - Volusia Co., New Smyrna Beach - Lightning killed a commercial fisherman while fishing alone.

l5 l972 - afternoon - Volusia Co., Deland - Thunderstorm winds damaged a fish camp and some boats. Winds destroyed a shed and blew lumber through 2 house trailers. The shed collapsed on some boats.

20 l990 - l2l5 - Volusia Co., Daytona Beach - Lightning killed a man who was wading in the ocean.

22 l97l - daytime - Hillsborough Co., Ruskin - Lightning killed a 72-year old man working on a construction site. - afternoon - Volusia Co., Ormond Beach - Lightning killed a l5 year old boy as he stood on the beach in front of a motel.

30 l986 - l755 - Volusia Co. - Lightning killed a l5 year old boy water skiing.

August

1 1957 - afternoon - Volusia Co., Pierson - Lightning killed one person.

29 l968 - l0l5 - l020 - Okaloosa Co., Eglin AFB - Lightning killed 2 Army Rangers and injured 7. 2 weak tornadoes spawned by a tropical disturbance struck Volusia County in the morning, no injuries.

September

l5-30 l994 - Peninsular Florida - Flooding - Two synoptic-scale systems, one tropical and one non-tropical brought heavy rain to most of peninsular Florida the last half of September. Rivers and streams, particularly in the west central counties of Citrus, Polk, Hillsborough, Sarasota, Hardee, Desoto and Manatee Counties, overflowed, flooding roadways and inundating or isolating residential areas. The northeast and east central areas experienced urban flooding that closed roads and flooded schools and homes in Duval County and flooded subdivisions in Flagler, Volusia, St. Johns and Brevard Counties. In southern interior Florida, flooding of swampy areas around Lake Okeechobee damaged some roadways in Hendry County and isolated houses in Glades and western Palm Beach Counties. Flooding was also reported in Wakulla County in northwest Florida.

l8 l994 - l435 - Volusia Co., New Smyrna Beach - Lightning - A 22-year-old woman was killed and a 4l-year-old woman was injured while standing next to a car on the beach. A fast moving thunderstorm, which had produced rain for only a few minutes, produced the flash that struck the victims directly.

23 1995 - 1435 - Volusia Co., Daytona Beach - Two men were struck by a lone lightning bolt prior to the onset of heavy rain. Both men were hospitalized in critical condition. One of the two, a 28-year-old tourist from Canada, died three days later.

October

l0 l989 - 0l00 - l500 - St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, Brevard Counties - Flooding/Flash Flood - Torrential rains developed along the upper Florida east coast north of a stationary front. Rain amounts between 6 and l6 inches occurred along the coast. This resulted in widespread flooding of streets and structures. In St. Augustine, where the greatest rain total was recorded (l6.08"), extensive flooding occurred in homes and businesses, and caused the closing of many streets that had over three feet of standing water. Flooding in northern Brevard Co. around Scottsmoor was also severe. Considerable road and property damage resulted.

November

5 l988 - morning - north and central Florida - Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes - 0115 - Madison Co. A tornado destroyed 6 homes and damaged l0 others near Lee, killing one woman. Other tornadoes hit Santa Rosa Beach in Walton Co. and Fort Meade in Polk County. Severe thunderstorm winds damaged roofs, trees, and powerlines in Levy, Citrus, Putnam, Volusia, Osceola, and Polk Counties.

13-l6 l994 - south, east central, and northeast Florida - Tropical Storm Gordon - after a serpentine track through the Caribbean Sea, Gordon began effecting south Florida on the l3th when located off the northeast coast of Cuba. Gordon moved slowly west-northwest, reaching the lower Florida Keys late on the l5th. On the l6th, Gordon turned northeast and accelerated, moving inland near Ft. Myers in the morning and exiting into the Atlantic just north of Vero Beach in the late afternoon. After becoming a hurricane off the coast of North Carolina, then weakening to a tropical depression and moving south and west, Gordon moved ashore a second time just north of Melbourne on the 21st.

The maximum sustained wind was 53 mph at Virginia Key in east Dade County, and the minimum central pressure was 995 mb shortly after initial landfall near Ft. Myers. Gordon directly caused 8 fatalities and 43 injuries. Seven of the deaths were by drowning, five in the Atlantic off the southeast coast, and two when cars plunged into canals in Dade County. One death and 40 injuries resulted from a tornado in Brevard County (see 15 1994 - 1853), one of six tornadoes spun off by Gordon on the evening of the 15th. There were three indirect deaths, one from a heart attack while pushing a car stalled in a flooded road, and two in traffic accidents. Gordon's total damage is estimated around $400 million. Agricultural interests suffered $275 million in losses, primarily from freshwater flooding caused by widespread rainfalls totaling 6 to l6 inches. Vegetable and tropical fruit crops in south Florida were particularly hard hit. Inland flooding caused damage to buildings through both rising freshwater and collapse of rain-loaded roofs. Especially hard hit was Volusia County where l236 buildings (977 single family homes, 68 mobile homes and l39 multi-family buildings) reported flood damage, and losses were estimated at over $26 million. Public works suffered from the effects of both water and wind with damage to roadways, sewer facilities, utility lines and signs. Marine effects included several boat sinkings or groundings, including a 506-foot freighter beached off Ft. Lauderdale. At least 37 people were rescued from sinking boats. One woman was rescued after being swept l000 yards off a fishing pier in Boynton Beach. Atlantic beaches suffered moderate to locally severe erosion that undermined a few buildings. Several sea walls and beach access walks were destroyed. Some coastal roads along the east coast were inundated by a storm surge, estimated to be a maximum of one to two feet along Miami Beach.

20 l983 - morning and afternoon - Panhandle and central Florida - 03l5 - Escambia Co., Pensacola - A tornado damaged mobile homes, utility sheds, and power lines. Heavy rain caused localized flooding and lightning started several house fires. One man died when he touched an electrified fence caused by downed power lines. Severe thunderstorm winds damaged 6 homes in Bay County. In the afternoon a tornado struck Ormond Beach in Volusia Co. damaging 18 mobile homes and 40 cars. Another tornado struck rural Flagler Co. doing little damage. Severe thunderstorm winds were reported in Putnam, Citrus, Brevard, Charolotte and Lee Cos. Damage was mainly to mobile homes, roofs and signs - no injuries.

22-24 1984 - St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach Counties. - Great Thanksgiving Holiday East Coast Storm - A strong low pressure system developed east of Florida, and coupled with a high pressure to the northwest, a strong pressure gradient led to gale force winds along the east coast. As the low moved slowly north heavy rains of up to seven inches fell over south Florida. There was extensive coastal flooding and beach erosion with many structures damaged or destroyed. Fishing piers and seawalls were damaged or destroyed. Damage ran into the millions and was confined to the seashore except where heavy rain in the south caused local flooding. A man was killed when he stepped on a downed power line.

December

27 l940 - early morning - 0050 - Flagler Co. a tornado destroyed 4 tourist cabins and a home, injuring 3. 0130 - Volusia Co. a tornado moved through Samsula and Port Orange damaging roofs and chimneys. Eleven barns were damaged at Samsula.