Thunderstorms in Clearwater?? (Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota: living in, gardens, beaches)

[gh62]

Hi everyone....we are from Canada and will be in Clearwater next week and the long range forecast is predicting thunderstorms. Should I be worried? How bad do the storms get this time of year? Very nervous about it and would appreciate any info. Thanks so much!

[annaegel]

When are you coming down? There is no rain in the 10 day forecast. I wouldn't worry about the thunderstorms. Go inside if you see big dark rain clouds coming.

[gh62]

We are coming wednesday the 13th and staying for one week.

[annaegel]

I just checked a weather forcast. They are predicting 30% chance of rain/thunderstorms for Thursday and 60% for Friday. It will be HOT, compared to what you are use to in Canada. The water should be nice a warm too. They keep forcasting rain, but then they take it away. We may end up with no rain while you are visiting. We have been in a bad drought for a long time. Even if it does rain, and we end up with one of our big thunderstorms, just keep an eye on the forcast and the sky. If you see anything threatening, go inside. Yes, lightening can strike 10 miles away, but out here, you can usually see it coming farther away than that. This isn't our big rainy season anyway. Summer is when we have big thunderstorms every afternoon around 3 or 4 pm.

[Sailor Curt]

You really don't have much to fear from a Spring thunderstorm. Most of the really bad ones occur during the Summer months.

I really miss thunderstorms! I've been living in the Pacific Northwest for 10 years, close to the Canadian border, and we never get that sort of dramatic weather.

I guess because I grew up in the Southeast, I just got used to them, but I've never been afraid of one so long as there was shelter to seek when things really got bad. (The only time I've ever really been scared by a thunderstorm was out in an open boat).

So, like Annaegel stated, just go inside if it looks like it is going to really be a bad one.

[gh62]

Thank you annaegel and Sailor Curt....I guess I feel better now. So basically you are saying that even if there is thunderstorms, they shouldn't be severe nor would they last all day?
This is our first family vacation ever and I would hate it to be ruined by rain and thunderstorms as we are really looking forward to the beaches. That's why we chose Clearwater over Orlando.
I appreciate your input.
Thanks again

[Sailor Curt]

Originally Posted by gh62

So basically you are saying that even if there is thunderstorms, they shouldn't be severe nor would they last all day?

Well, nobody can predict with 100% certainty what a thunderstorm is going to do once it starts to form. But what I'm saying is that, typically, thunderstorms in the spring don't have as much intensity as a summer thunderstorm has. But, you have to understand that there is always the chance that conditions might cause a spring storm to intensify. Checking the weather forecast regularly is a good idea if you are truly concerned.

And most thunderstorms don't last very long. I can recall being at the beach, going in because of a thunderstorm, and once it passed over (sometimes an hour, sometimes in 15 minutes), the sun was back out and so were we.

Relax, and enjoy your vacation. I personally predict that you will have a great time!

[debvic]

Originally Posted by gh62

Thank you annaegel and Sailor Curt....I guess I feel better now. So basically you are saying that even if there is thunderstorms, they shouldn't be severe nor would they last all day?
This is our first family vacation ever and I would hate it to be ruined by rain and thunderstorms as we are really looking forward to the beaches. That's why we chose Clearwater over Orlando.
I appreciate your input.
Thanks again

Don't worry, be happy. Enjoy your family vacation even if there is a storm it won't ruin your trip, they come and go. You might even find it amazing how hard it can rain. That was my first impression of the summer storms here. I never saw rain come down that hard back in NJ,it was facinating to watch kids will love it ,if you even seea storm that is. It has been so dry now and no real storms predicted so far.

[annaegel]

We rarely get rainy days like up north. I too am from NJ and we never had such downpours like Florida has. However, they only last 15 minutes, no more than an hour.

I hope you enjoy your trip. There are lots do to in Clearwater. Go to the aquarium near the beach. It is small, but nice. They have a dolphin that has been fitted with a prosthetic. Early in the morning, near the round-about they have blow up water slides. I am not sure if they will have them this time of year, but if they do, they only have them in the morning. By afternoon, it is too hot and they deflate them. I like to go to siesta key which is a 5 minute drive from Clearwater beach. It is quiet. You do have to feed the meter some quarters, but not too expensive.

[debvic]

Originally Posted by annaegel

We rarely get rainy days like up north. I too am from NJ and we never had such downpours like Florida has. However, they only last 15 minutes, no more than an hour.

I hope you enjoy your trip. There are lots do to in Clearwater. Go to the aquarium near the beach. It is small, but nice. They have a dolphin that has been fitted with a prosthetic. Early in the morning, near the round-about they have blow up water slides. I am not sure if they will have them this time of year, but if they do, they only have them in the morning. By afternoon, it is too hot and they deflate them. I like to go to siesta key which is a 5 minute drive from Clearwater beach. It is quiet. You do have to feed the meter some quarters, but not too expensive.

Are you sure you mean Siesta Key? That is in Sarasota County and more like an hour drive from Clw Bch. Honey moon Island might be fun especially if they take the ferry over to Caladesie Island. Also in nearby Tampa- Busch Gardens .