Strong Storms Produce Hail, Lightning Strikes

BROOKSVILLE - Rough weather Tuesday afternoon produced hail in Brooksville, several lighting strikes and power outages for hundreds of Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative customers.

A strong line of storms with gusts of up to 40 miles per hour moved through county just after 4 p.m., prompting the National Weather Service to issue a severe thunderstorm warning that lasted until 5 p.m.

Dime-sized hail fell over downtown Brooksville and points just west, according to the weather service.

At least three lightning strikes were reported in the county, said Assistant Chief Frank DeFrancesco of Hernando County Fire Rescue.

One of the strikes sparked a brush fire that briefly endangered a house on Andrews Boulevard, north of Weeki Wachee. Crews doused the flames before it reached the house, DeFrancesco said.

Lightning also struck a two-story house on Snow Hill Road, north of Brooksville. The strike caused serious damage to the electrical system but no fire, DeFrancesco said. County firefighters also responded to a tree on fire at Ponce De Leon Boulevard and Citrus Way.

A tree toppled onto a line along Mobley Road, causing some 800 customers to lose power for about 47 minutes, said WREC spokesman David Lambert.

The severe weather pushed east and was out of the area by about 5:30 p.m. but another round of heavy afternoon showers are expected today and through the week, according to the weather service.