Bay area storms cause flooding, damage

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Areas across the Bay experienced flooding and damage a storm filled will high winds and heavy rains hit the area.

The thunder was the warning that the rain was certainly on the way.  Drivers in St. Petersburg were forced to navigate through roads that had turned to rivers after the rain came down hard and fast.

But people like Wesley Chapel resident, George Bobik, said it wasn't like your typical Florida storm.

“We were up almost waist deep in the ditch areas.

He says they were sitting at his house and it started lightening and thundering.

“…sitting out on the front porch watching some of it, we sat out there for a little while and then the wind started picking up.  Then we started hearing little hail pellets,” Bobik said.

 “I told my girls to go in the house because the wind started picking up and changing direction.  It was whipping around everywhere. ”

Bobik said he can't be sure if it was a tornado--- but he knows he hasn't seen the winds whip like they did last night in a while. The damage to his neighbors roof tells the tale of the rough night filled with dangerous winds and significant downpours.

“It was covering the roads.  Our yards were connected with water, which I have never seen,” he said.

In Tampa, part of Linebaugh Avenue near Nebraska Avenue was closed overnight due to flooding.