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GEOPHYSICAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE JULY 4, 2004 FLORIDA "LIGHTNING-METEORITE" EVENT

The event took place about 8 pm local time July 4, i.e. about midnight July 5 in GMT (0 Z, July 5) in the area about N 28.7, W 81.3 . Here are maps of the region:

Below is meteorological data for Sanford meteostation (KSFB, N 28 deg 46', W 81 deg 13') which is situated a little bit to the north from the area of the event

SPECI KSFB 032340Z 14008KT 10SM FEW005 BKN049 24/22 A3003 RMK AO2 RAE40 P0012
METAR KSFB 032353Z 15008KT 10SM -RA FEW005 BKN060 24/22 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP167 P0013 60206 T02390222 10339 20222 50022
METAR KSFB 040053Z 15006KT 10SM -RA OVC048 23/22 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP166 P0006 T02330217
METAR KSFB 040153Z 18007KT 10SM -RA BKN055 BKN080 23/22 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP166 P0002 T02330217
METAR KSFB 040253Z 07005KT 10SM CLR 23/22 A3003 RMK AO2 RAE00 SLP166 P0000 60008 T02330217 56000
METAR KSFB 040353Z 17006KT 10SM CLR 23/21 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP173 T02330211
METAR KSFB 040453Z AUTO 18006KT 10SM CLR 23/21 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP165 T02330211 403390222 TSNO
METAR KSFB 040553Z AUTO 14003KT 10SM FEW055 23/22 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP162 60008 T02330217 10239 20228 58004 TSNO
METAR KSFB 040653Z AUTO 11004KT 10SM FEW075 23/21 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP159 T02280211 TSNO
METAR KSFB 040753Z AUTO 20003KT 10SM CLR 23/21 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP155 T02330211
METAR KSFB 040853Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/21 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP157 T02280211 55005
METAR KSFB 040953Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 22/21 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP159 T02220211 TSNO
METAR KSFB 041053Z 26003KT 10SM CLR 22/21 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP167 T02220211
METAR KSFB 041153Z 26003KT 9SM CLR 24/22 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP171 70214 T02440222 10244 20222 53014
METAR KSFB 041253Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/22 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP177 T02670222
METAR KSFB 041353Z 23004KT 10SM CLR 28/23 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP179 T02780233
METAR KSFB 041453Z 26005KT 10SM CLR 29/23 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP178 T02940228 50007
METAR KSFB 041553Z VRB04KT 10SM BKN030 30/23 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP176 T03000228
METAR KSFB 041653Z 18006KT 10SM FEW036 SCT045 32/23 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP175 T03170228
METAR KSFB 041753Z VRB05KT 10SM BKN038 BKN048 33/23 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP170 T03280228 10328 20244 58008
METAR KSFB 041853Z 25006KT 10SM FEW046 34/22 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP162 T03390222
METAR KSFB 041953Z 16008KT 10SM CLR 34/21 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP160 T03390211
METAR KSFB 042053Z 14007KT 10SM FEW050 34/21 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP152 T03390211 58018
METAR KSFB 042153Z 28011KT 7SM -RA OVC050 27/22 A3002 RMK AO2 RAB52 PRESRR SLP165 P0001 T02670222
SPECI KSFB 042159Z 25022G27KT 1SM +RA BR FEW012 OVC050 25/23 A3004 RMK AO2 PK WND 25027/2159 VIS 1/4V5 PRESRR P0016
SPECI KSFB 042203Z 28017G28KT 1/4SM +RA FG SCT007 OVC050 24/22 A3002 RMK AO2 PK WND 29028/2202 P0039
SPECI KSFB 042213Z 29009G19KT 1/4SM +RA FG BKN005 OVC050 24/23 A3003 RMK AO2 PK WND 29028/2202 P0079
SPECI KSFB 042220Z 34009KT 1/2SM +RA FG BKN009 OVC050 24/23 A3004 RMK AO2 PK WND 29028/2202 P0095
SPECI KSFB 042226Z 01010KT 1SM +RA BR VV012 24/23 A3004 RMK AO2 PK WND 29028/2202 P0105
SPECI KSFB 042240Z 04008KT 2SM RA BR OVC020 24/23 A3002 RMK AO2 PK WND 29028/2202 P0120
SPECI KSFB 042246Z 03010KT 4SM -RA BR OVC026 24/22 A3001 RMK AO2 PK WND 29028/2202 TS VC NE E MVG E LTGCCICCG P0120
METAR KSFB 042253Z 04012KT 4SM RA BR OVC030 23/22 A3001 RMK AO2 PK WND 29028/2202 SLP161 TS VC NE E MVG E LTGCCICCG P0121 T02330222
METAR KSFB 042353Z 11007KT 10SM SCT055 23/22 A3002 RMK AO2 RAE44 SLP165 P0003 60125 T02330222 10344 20228 51013
METAR KSFB 050053Z 15008KT 10SM SCT090 23/22 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP168 T02330217
METAR KSFB 050153Z 18010KT 10SM -RA BKN050 OVC080 23/22 A3006 RMK AO2 RAB0057 SLP176 P0003 T02330217
METAR KSFB 050253Z 19008KT 10SM CLR 23/22 A3007 RMK AO2 RAE41 SLP181 P0000 60003 T02330217 53016
METAR KSFB 050353Z 32003KT 10SM CLR 23/21 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP187 T02330211
METAR KSFB 050453Z 00000KT 6SM BR CLR 23/22 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP188 T02330217 403440222
METAR KSFB 050553Z 00000KT 6SM BR CLR 24/22 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP177 60003 T02390222 10239 20228 58003
METAR KSFB 050653Z 00000KT 6SM BR CLR 23/22 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP174 T02330222
METAR KSFB 050753Z 00000KT 5SM BR CLR 23/22 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP177 T02330217
METAR KSFB 050853Z AUTO 20005KT 8SM CLR 23/22 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP178 T02330217 53001 TSNO
METAR KSFB 050953Z AUTO 16005KT 9SM CLR 23/22 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP179 T02330217 TSNO
METAR KSFB 051053Z 18004KT 9SM CLR 23/22 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP185 T02330222
METAR KSFB 051153Z 20004KT 10SM CLR 24/22 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP191 70128 T02440222 10244 20233 53013
METAR KSFB 051253Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 26/23 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP195 T02560228
METAR KSFB 051353Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/23 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP200 T02780228
METAR KSFB 051453Z 01005KT 10SM CLR 30/23 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP203 T03000233 51012
METAR KSFB 051553Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 31/23 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP202 T03110233
METAR KSFB 051653Z 15007KT 10SM SCT036 BKN049 31/23 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP198 T03110233
METAR KSFB 051753Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 33/22 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP193 T03280222 10328 20244 58009
METAR KSFB 051853Z VRB05KT 10SM CLR 34/22 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP187 T03390222
METAR KSFB 051953Z 01008KT 10SM FEW060 34/21 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP182 T03440211
METAR KSFB 052053Z 35009G18KT 10SM SCT055 SCT070 31/22 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP182 T03060222 56012
METAR KSFB 052153Z 03007KT 10SM CLR 29/22 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP187 T02890217
METAR KSFB 052253Z 14007KT 10SM CLR 28/21 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP185 T02830206
METAR KSFB 052353Z 14005KT 10SM CLR 26/21 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP186 T02610211 10350 20261 51004
METAR KSFB 060053Z 12006KT 10SM CLR 26/21 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP182 T02560211

It is seen that the event was associated with upsurge in cloudiness

Another meteostation (KORL, N 28 deg 33', W 81 deg 20') in Orlando, which is a little bit to the south from the area of the event showed the following:

METAR KORL 032353Z 12005KT 10SM -RA BKN049 OVC085 23/22 A3004 RMK AO2 WSHFT 2244 TSE20 SLP175 P0014 60067 T02280222 10328 20228 50021
METAR KORL 040053Z 11003KT 10SM FEW075 23/22 A3004 RMK AO2 RAE31 SLP175 P0001 T02280222
METAR KORL 040153Z 14006KT 10SM CLR 23/22 A3005 RMK AO2 RAB0056E48 SLP178 P0001 T02330222
METAR KORL 040253Z 19004KT 10SM CLR 23/22 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP171 60002 T02330217 58002
METAR KORL 040353Z 10006KT 10SM CLR 23/22 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP183 T02330222
METAR KORL 040453Z 10003KT 10SM FEW055 23/22 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP175 T02280217 403280228
METAR KORL 040553Z 17004KT 10SM BKN065 23/22 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP170 60002 T02330217 10233 20228 58001
METAR KORL 040653Z 15005KT 10SM FEW070 23/22 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP165 T02280217
METAR KORL 040753Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/22 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP160 T02280217
METAR KORL 040853Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/22 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP163 T02280217 55006
METAR KORL 040953Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/22 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP167 T02330222
METAR KORL 041053Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/22 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP177 T02330222
METAR KORL 041153Z 22003KT 10SM CLR 24/23 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP181 70069 T02440228 10244 20228 53017
METAR KORL 041253Z 18004KT 10SM CLR 27/24 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP184 T02670239
METAR KORL 041353Z 23005KT 10SM CLR 28/24 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP186 T02830239
METAR KORL 041453Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 29/24 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP187 T02940244 51007
METAR KORL 041553Z 00000KT 10SM FEW032 31/24 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP186 T03060239
METAR KORL 041653Z 00000KT 10SM FEW038 32/24 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP183 T03170239
METAR KORL 041753Z 23005KT 10SM CLR 33/23 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP177 T03280233 10328 20244 58010
METAR KORL 041853Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 33/22 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP169 T03280217
METAR KORL 041953Z 19004KT 10SM FEW055 33/22 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP169 T03330222
METAR KORL 042053Z 23004KT 10SM CLR 33/22 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP161 T03330217 57017
SPECI KORL 042135Z 31015G18KT 10SM TS SCT065 32/22 A3001 RMK AO2 TSB29 OCNL LTGICCG TS SW-NW
METAR KORL 042153Z 28017KT 10SM TS BKN065 OVC090 29/22 A3001 RMK AO2 WSHFT 2133 TSB29 SLP163 OCNL LTGICCG TS SW-NE T02940222
METAR KORL 042253Z 34009KT 10SM TS SCT055 26/23 A3001 RMK AO2 RAB13E49 SLP164 P0003 T02610228
METAR KORL 042353Z 10009KT 10SM TS FEW060 24/22 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP176 60003 T02440222 10339 20244 53015
METAR KORL 050053Z 15007KT 9SM -TSRA BKN055 BKN100 24/23 A3006 RMK AO2 RAB45 SLP182 P0000 T02390228
SPECI KORL 050141Z 15007KT 7SM TS FEW050 23/22 A3008 RMK AO2 TSE28B35RAE35 P0001
METAR KORL 050153Z 16008KT 6SM TS BR FEW060 24/23 A3007 RMK AO2 TSE28B35RAE35 SLP186 P0001 T02390228
METAR KORL 050253Z 15006KT 10SM -RA BKN055 BKN085 23/22 A3009 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SE TSB42E51RAB42 SLP191 P0002 60003 T02330217 51016
METAR KORL 050353Z 17005KT 10SM -RA SCT060 BKN080 24/22 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP193 P0001 T02390217
METAR KORL 050453Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/22 A3009 RMK AO2 RAE40 SLP192 P0000 T02390217 403390228
METAR KORL 050553Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/23 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP185 60004 T02440228 10244 20233 58006
METAR KORL 050653Z 00000KT 9SM CLR 24/23 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP180 T02440233
METAR KORL 050753Z 00000KT 7SM CLR 24/23 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP184 T02390228
METAR KORL 050853Z 21004KT 6SM BR CLR 24/23 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP186 T02390233 53002
METAR KORL 050953Z 14005KT 7SM CLR 23/23 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP185 T02330228
METAR KORL 051053Z 00000KT 6SM BR CLR 23/23 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP193 T02330228
METAR KORL 051153Z 23003KT 10SM CLR 24/23 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP198 70007 T02440233 10244 20233 53010
METAR KORL 051253Z 18003KT 10SM CLR 28/23 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP202 T02780228
METAR KORL 051353Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 29/23 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP205 T02890228
METAR KORL 051453Z 23006KT 10SM CLR 30/23 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP208 T03000228 51012
METAR KORL 051553Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 31/23 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP210 T03110228
METAR KORL 051653Z 00000KT 10SM SCT045 BKN055 32/23 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP206 T03170228
METAR KORL 051753Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 33/22 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP199 T03280222 10333 20250 58009
METAR KORL 051853Z 15005KT 10SM CLR 33/21 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP196 T03280206
METAR KORL 051953Z 18004KT 10SM SCT060 33/21 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP190 T03330206
METAR KORL 052053Z 09004KT 10SM SCT060 34/22 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP190 T03390222 56009
METAR KORL 052153Z 21009KT 10SM BKN055 OVC075 29/21 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP191 T02940206
METAR KORL 052253Z 34004KT 10SM CLR 30/22 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP188 T03000217
METAR KORL 052353Z 13007KT 10SM CLR 27/22 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP193 T02670217 10344 20267 53003
METAR KORL 060053Z 00000KT 10SM FEW049 27/23 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP191 T02670228

Here is composite NEXRAD-radar reflectivity images taken from the National Climatic Data Center ( http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?WWNEXRAD~Images2 )
July 4, 20 Z
July 4, 21 Z
July 4, 22 Z
July 4, 23 Z
July 5, 00 Z
July 5, 01 Z
July 5, 02 Z
July 5, 03 Z
July 5, 04 Z

So the data shows that the event was associated with cloudiness upsurge. It looks like the most dense ("thunderstorm-like") clouds detected by radars were in the area about 1-2 hours before the event.

Satellite's pictures (taken about every 30-minutes) show some new details - development of thick high-altitude cloudiness in the area.
Below are GEOS-12 pictures (taken from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Satellite Active Archive www.saa.noaa.gov) for the region N 27.7-29.7 deg., W 80.3-82.3, i.e. centered at the place of the event

commencing at 20.15 Z, July 4 in the infrared band 4
and in the visible band 1
commencing at 20.40 Z in the infrared band 4
and in the visible band 1
commencing at 21.15 Z in the infrared band 4
and in the visible band 1
commencing at 21.45 in the infrared band 4
and in the visible band 1
commencing at 22.15 Z in the infrared band 4
and in the visible band 1
commencing at 22.45 Z in the infrared band 4
and in the visible band 1
commencing at 23.15 Z in the infrared band 4
and in the visible band 1
commencing at 23.40 Z in the infrared band 4
and in the visible band 1
commencing at 00.15 Z, July 5 in the infrared band 4
and in the visible band 1
All images below are just for the infrared band 4
commencing at 00.45 Z
commencing at 01.15 Z
commencing at 01.45 Z
commencing at 02.15 Z
commencing at 02.40 Z
commencing at 03.15 Z

So the meteorological situation was favourable for geophysical meteors.