Special Weather Statement Florida | Effective 03/16/2026 13:28

Headline: 
Special Weather Statement issued March 16 at 4:28PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
Event: 
Special Weather Statement
Urgency: 
Expected
Effective: 
March 16, 2026 - 1:28pm
Expires: 
March 16, 2026 - 3:00pm
Description: 
At 427 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 8 miles west of Four Corners to near Palm Harbor to 18 miles southwest of Bay Pines. Movement was east at 30 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Saint Leo, Belleair Bluffs, Palm Harbor, South Tampa, New Port Richey East, Sawgrass Lake Park, Belleair Beach, St. Leo, Plant City Airport, Tampa Executive Airport, Haines City, Polk City, Winston, Downtown Saint Petersburg, Zephyrhills South, St. Pete Beach, Tampa International Airport, Highpoint, Bradenton Beach, and Orient Park.
Instruction: 
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for central and west central Florida.
Area Description: 
Sumter; Pinellas; Polk; Coastal Pasco; Coastal Hillsborough; Coastal Manatee; Inland Pasco; Inland Hillsborough; Inland Manatee
Forcast Office: 
NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL