Does Tampa Get Tornadoes?

Yes, Tampa gets tornadoes. The area between and including Tampa to Fort Myers is known as Tornado Alley in the state of Florida. Most tornadoes happen in the spring and in the summer months. Historically the strongest ones have occurred in the spring although the rainy season continues throughout the summer months and hurricane season.

Tampa FL

Lightning Strikes In Tampa FL / Tampa Bay

According to the National Weather Service the lightning Capital of America is between Tampa Bay and Orlando. The area known as Four Corners which is just west of Walt Disney World experiences more lightning strikes per square mile than anywhere else in the whole country. Living in the lightning capital does expose you to some risks and some lightning deaths are occasionally reported.

Lightning Strikes and Lightning Safety

In the previous 3 years I personally have experienced the following extensive damage by living in the lightning capital. My electric boat lift was absolutely fried by a strike. My generator's control board was fried rendering the generator useless for months after lightning struck the ground. The cable line to my house was burnt black and rendered useless and we have lost the gate to our community several times. A lightning strike is no joke and the lightning density here is somewhat amazing.

Avoid A Lightning Strike

The sound of thunder travels a mile in 5 seconds. Is you see lightning and here the thunder in 25 seconds or less go inside. It is just that simple when you are in a thunder storm there is a risk. That really applies to all of Central Florida or any other state which you may have a thunderstorms. Don't become a lightning expert.