Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued For Gulf Coast

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for central and southern Pinellas County.

Additionally, a significant weather advisory has been issued for northwestern Manatee, central Pinellas, southern Hillsborough, eastern Citrus, Sumter, Pasco, Hernando, northwest Sarasota and northwest Polk counties until 8 p.m.

At 7:11 p.m., severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Largo to nine miles west of Fort DeSoto Park, moving east at 40 mph with up to 60 mph gusts with hail possible.

At 7:13 p.m., Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 10 miles northeast of Inverness to near Hill n Dale to near Feather Sound. Movement was east at 45 mph.

At 7:28 p.m. Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near MacDill Air Force Base to 51 miles southwest of St. Armands Key. Movement was east at 45 mph.
with winds in excess of 40 mph possible.

Residents can expect damage to roofs, siding and trees.

Locations impacted include Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, Seminole, downtown St. Petersburg, Fort DeSoto Park, St. Pete Beach, Bay Pines, South Highpoint, Tierra Verde, Gandy, Feather Sound, west and east Lealman, Ridgecrest, Harbor Bluffs, Gulfport, Treasure Island, Kenneth City, Tampa, Sarasota, Bradenton, Palmetto, FishHawk, Anna Maria, Lakeland, Plant City, Hudson, Holiday, Lutz, Brandon, Saint Leo, Spring Hill, Temple Terrace, New Port Richey, Zephyrhills, Brooksville, Inverness, Wildwood, Dade City, Bushnell, South Gate Ridge, Lake Sarasota, Southgate, Gulf Gate Estates and The Meadows.

A high surf advisory is in effect from 1 a.m. Friday, Dec. 25 to 10 p.m. in Tampa Bay, and a high rip current risk remains in effect through Saturday morning.

The high surf can cause dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.