Anyone who has spent a summer in West Central Florida knows to expect a lot of thunderstorms. According to data from the World Data Center for Meteorology, Tampa has an average of 55 days during the summer with thunderstorms, with an average of 20 thunderstorms in July and 21 thunderstorms in August. The city of Tampa actually has the highest number of thunderstorms, on average, of any major city in Florida. Are these thunderstorms weather events that should concern you in terms of property damage, or are they commonplace summer incidents for which you do not need to worry about windstorm damage?
Do Summer Thunderstorms Typically Produce Wind Damage?
Supercell Storms and Hail Damage in Florida
According to a recent article in the Palm Beach Post, meteorologists identified supercell storms in the middle of last month that were likely to produce significant hail storm damage across the state of Florida. Indeed, the article suggested that golf-ball-sized hail could be possible due to the combination of weather factors within the storm system. In short, "a clash of icy cloud tops and moist tropical air" is a common precursor to "powerful supercell thunderstorms" that can result in serious damage to property. While this storm system ultimately weakened just in time-such that Floridians were spared much of the predicted hail damage-the possibility of other such supercell thunderstorms should put residents of South Florida on alert.
Florida Lightning Strikes and Fire Damage
If you live in Florida, it is important to understand the risk of fire claims as a result of lightning strikes. When most of us consider home fires and the possibility of fire damage, we tend to think about fires that start as a result of electrical issues or kitchen leaks. However, lightning strikes lead to a significant number of fires in our state every year and, indeed, across the country. What do you need to know about the relationship between lightning strikes and fire claims?
