Florida Special Weather Statement | Effective 05/02/2026 12:39

Headline: 
Special Weather Statement issued May 2 at 3:39PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
Event: 
Special Weather Statement
Urgency: 
Expected
Effective: 
May 2, 2026 - 12:39pm
Expires: 
May 2, 2026 - 1:30pm
Description: 
At 339 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 13 miles southwest of Lake Louisa to near Lakeland to Ruskin to 10 miles northwest of Saint Armands Key. Movement was east at 25 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... Tampa, Lakeland, Sarasota, Bradenton, Plant City, Winter Haven, Temple Terrace, Haines City, Bartow, Lake Wales, Auburndale, Palmetto, Fish Hawk, Brandon, South Gate Ridge, Lake Sarasota, East Lake-Orient Park, Southgate, Gulf Gate Estates, and The Meadows.
Instruction: 
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for central and west central Florida.
Area Description: 
Polk; Coastal Hillsborough; Coastal Manatee; Coastal Sarasota; Inland Hillsborough; Inland Manatee; Inland Sarasota
Forcast Office: 
NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL