Severe thunderstorm warnings expire; storms drifting west into gulf

All severe thunderstorm warnings have expired. Storms will continue to drift west into the gulf tonight.

Warnings were issued earlier for Pinellas, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

Small hail was reported in Westchase. A tree fell and blocked U.S. 92 by Kingsway Avenue in Seffner.

Rain chances will remain at 50 percent through Thursday.

Bay News 9 Meteorologist Brian McClure said seeing the strong storms develop in the late afternoon, early evening was not a big surprise.

"We're probably going to see the same thing the next two to three days," he said.

McClure described it as the "classic summertime pattern."

Also, with 1.75 inches of rain Monday at Tampa International Airport, August has surpassed 10 inches of rain.

With June and July also surpassing that total, it marked the first time since 1957 that three months in a row each had more than 10 inches of rainfall.