Breezy

"The sea breeze accounts for 70 percent of annual rainfall in the state of Florida. Central Florida is located in a prime spot to receive a sea breeze from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. In light wind regimes, two sea breezes typically form. However, prevailing winds can blow these toward one another, forming one intense thunderstorm line down the middle of the state. Thanks to a higher tropical tropopause, Florida's thunderstorms easily grow to heights greater than 10 miles. When coupled with abundant moisture and slow movement, it is not uncommon for Florida thunderstorms to drop four or more inches of rain in less than one hour."—H. Michael Mogil (link)

"Florida is the lightning capital of the United States. Tampa has about 50 cloud-to-ground flashes per square mile per year, the highest of any U.S. location. When coupled with an active, outdoor lifestyle, lightning can be a major killer. Ron Holle, a renowned lightning expert, noted that 74 deaths occurred in Florida during the period from 1998- 2007. Florida ranks fifth in lightning deaths when data is adjusted for population but first in actual fatality numbers."—H. Michael Mogil (link)

"The sea breeze circulation reverses at night and becomes the land breeze. The land becomes cooler than the water and thus the placement of the low and high pressure areas reverse. Locally, when the land breeze encounters the warm Gulf Stream, a line of nocturnal thunderstorms is often observed offshore of the coast."—NOAA (link)