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Chance of showers continues in Tampa Bay after severe overnight thunderstorms

 
Rain clouds pass over St. Petersburg Monday night. [Jim Damaske | TIMES]
Rain clouds pass over St. Petersburg Monday night. [Jim Damaske | TIMES]
Published July 12, 2016

A typical pattern of stormy summer weather is starting to settle into Tampa Bay.

Monday night left thousands without power in Hillsborough and Pasco counties as severe thunderstorms passed through. Meanwhile a tornado touched down in Duette and lightning strikes was a likely cause of an overnight three-alarm fire in Thonotosassa.

[10Weather WTSP forecast | Tap to enlarge]

There was a possibility for showers this afternoon, according to 10Weather WTSP. Tuesday evening, there was a 40 to 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. That type of weather pattern seemed likely to continue throughout the week.

About 8 p.m. Monday, heavy storms were clustered in a roughly vertical line from Zephyrhills in the north to Manatee River in the south, according to 10Weather WTSP.

10Weather WTSP

10Weather WTSP

They were moving west at about 10 mph and were expected to move offshore between 11 p.m. and midnight, according to meteorologist Ashley Batey.

Lightning lit up the sky Monday night. The National Weather Service warned of hail the size of quarters, torrential rainfall and flooding.

The tornado touched down in Duette shortly before 7 p.m., Batey said.

"Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter," the NWS wrote in a bulletin. "Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. … Take cover now!"

At 8:20 p.m. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded to reports of a fire engulfing an RV supply business in Thonotosassa. Fire rescue was still investigating the possible lightning strike Tuesday morning. Sunday night, eastbound lanes on West Hillsborough Avenue were closed due to a brush fire touched off by a lightning strike in the Countryway area of Hillsborough County.

By 8:40 p.m. Monday, Tampa Electric reported nearly 7,000 customers without power, with the worst damage in east Hillsborough County.

Duke Energy reported about 420 customers without power at 8:40 p.m.

WTSP reported temperatures would be around 78 degrees Tuesday morning. It was expected to hit 91 degrees by the afternoon and go down to 89 degrees in the evening.