Lighning strikes 3 in Tampa Bay area

[caneman]

mods, please feel free to move to appropriate area if necessary. I know this is probably the most visited area though and want to get the word out about how dangerous lightning is especially in Florida and even more so from Tampa to Orlando. Sad story.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/21/South ... _str.shtml

[Stephanie]

Moved from Talking Tropics.

[tropicana]

another lightning death in Florida to report today:

DEERFIELD BEACH -
Sun Jul 22 2007
A 36-year-old man was struck and killed by lightning while diving in the Atlantic Ocean off Deerfield Beach on Sunday afternoon, authorities said.
The incident took place during an afternoon of severe thunderstorms that pelted the region, from Miami to West Palm Beach, with torrential rains, strong winds, pea-sized hail and hundreds of bolts of lightning.
At the time of the strike, at about 3 p.m., two divers were on a 20-foot boat and two were in the water.
The victim, who had gone into cardiac arrest, was given CPR while he was being taken North Broward Medical Center in Pompano Beach, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.

Lightning also struck and started a roof fire a home in the 3000 block of Green Turtle Place in Margate, according to a preliminary report. Tile were reportedly blown off roof, but no injuries reported.

The reason squally weather hit so hard on Sunday: two line of thunderstorms converged on South Florida from two different directions, said meteorologist Dan Gregoria of the National Weather Service in Miami.

"Storms developed along the Atlantic coast and started to move inland," he said. "Other storms developed out over the Everglades and moved into the metro areas as well."
East-central Broward County was hit hardest, receiving about 2 to 3 inches of rain, Gregoria said. The weather service issued an urban flood advisory, though no serious flooding was reported on Sunday, other than puddles in streets and low-lying areas.

A tornado was initially reported in the 2100 block of Northwest 29th Court Oakland Park but officials couldn't confirm that a twister actually touched down.
Even so, the weather in that area was "really bad," said Richard Tingley, a Broward Sheriff's Office communications operator who lives in that area and was delayed getting to work on Sunday afternoon by the heavy rains.

-justin-

[peabodyelephant]

another lightning death in Florida to report today:

DEERFIELD BEACH -
Sun Jul 22 2007
A 36-year-old man was struck and killed by lightning while diving in the Atlantic Ocean off Deerfield Beach on Sunday afternoon, authorities said.
The incident took place during an afternoon of severe thunderstorms that pelted the region, from Miami to West Palm Beach, with torrential rains, strong winds, pea-sized hail and hundreds of bolts of lightning.
At the time of the strike, at about 3 p.m., two divers were on a 20-foot boat and two were in the water.
The victim, who had gone into cardiac arrest, was given CPR while he was being taken North Broward Medical Center in Pompano Beach, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.

Lightning also struck and started a roof fire a home in the 3000 block of Green Turtle Place in Margate, according to a preliminary report. Tile were reportedly blown off roof, but no injuries reported.

The reason squally weather hit so hard on Sunday: two line of thunderstorms converged on South Florida from two different directions, said meteorologist Dan Gregoria of the National Weather Service in Miami.

"Storms developed along the Atlantic coast and started to move inland," he said. "Other storms developed out over the Everglades and moved into the metro areas as well."
East-central Broward County was hit hardest, receiving about 2 to 3 inches of rain, Gregoria said. The weather service issued an urban flood advisory, though no serious flooding was reported on Sunday, other than puddles in streets and low-lying areas.

A tornado was initially reported in the 2100 block of Northwest 29th Court Oakland Park but officials couldn't confirm that a twister actually touched down.
Even so, the weather in that area was "really bad," said Richard Tingley, a Broward Sheriff's Office communications operator who lives in that area and was delayed getting to work on Sunday afternoon by the heavy rains.

-justin-

So sad,,,, great post

[destruction92]

when did this occur?

[destruction92]

disregard my question...what i meant to say was which part of florida has the most lightning activity?

[Category 5]

I believe the Tampa Bay area has more Lightning strikes then anywhere in the U.S am I correct?

[JonathanBelles]

I believe the Tampa Bay area has more Lightning strikes then anywhere in the U.S am I correct?

"Lightning Alley" runs from St. Pete to Orlando and Tampa Bay is the lightning capital of the US.

[Category 5]

I believe the Tampa Bay area has more Lightning strikes then anywhere in the U.S am I correct?

"Lightning Alley" runs from St. Pete to Orlando and Tampa Bay is the lightning capital of the US.

Thats what I thought. Thanks for confirming.

[JonathanBelles]

It is now confirmed that Sam Santilli, (sp) the son from Treasure Island, has died.

[Category 5]

It is now confirmed that Sam Santilli, (sp) the son from Treasure Island, has died.

Sad news indeed.

[tropicana]

very sad he was the guy that was struck by lightning last Friday morning, July 20, while walking with his mother on the sand at Treasure Island Municipal Beach, at around 10:30am.
He was hospitalized since then, but succummbed to his injuries on Tue Jul 24

here is his obituary which persoanilzes this story a bit more , and less deflects away from him being just a statistic.....
SANTILLI, Samuel A., 16, of Tampa, passed away July 24, 2007. He is survived by his mother, Maureen Machajewski; stepfather, Mark of Benbrook, Texas; his father, Anthony "Sam" Santilli (Jennifer), with whom he resided; sister, Jaclynn Santilli, College Station, Texas; grandmother, Gladys Daley, Milwaukee, Wis.; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Sam was a student at Hillsborough High School, class of 2009, where he was member in the HHS "Big Red" Marching Band and played on the varsity soccer team. He was a member of the HC United Killer Rabbits soccer team and employed at Regal Citrus Park 20 at Citrus Park Town Center Mall. Sam was a gift from God; he was pure of heart and our sunshine on a rainy day. He gave his love and help to everyone and had many friends. Many lives have been touched by his love. Sam loved soccer. He played with passion for the game and his teammates. He had just received his driver' s license and was looking forward to driving his new truck to HHS his junior year. Sam' s family would like to thank the staff members of All Children' s Hospital of St. Petersburg for their compassionate special care. He will be sadly missed by all who have been touched by his love. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Children' s Hospital, 801 Sixth St. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701. The family will receive friends 6-9 p.m. Friday July 27 and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday July 28 at the funeral home located at 4730 N. Armenia Ave. Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday July 28 , also at the funeral home.

[Category 5]

I do alot of watching lightning and shooting videos with my camera while outside. So this really makes me think.