More rain possible on Wednesday

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Parts of Southwest Florida could see more rain on Wednesday after strong storms passed through the region Tuesday, WINK News meteorologist Eric Stone said.

The showers will arrive early afternoon for inland counties and mid-afternoon near the coast, Stone said. Thunderstorms could develop as well.

The rain should end by Thursday,but residents should expect clouds, Stone said.

Several units at the Charleston Cay Apartments in Punta Gorda were evacuated on Tuesday after lightning struck the building. No one was injured but a piece of tarp covered a hole caused by the lightning strike.

Water and power was shut off in the eight units that sustained water damage.

The roof damage came as a band of showers drenched Southwest Florida with rain through late Tuesday afternoon.

Other weather events included:

A sagging power line over Sanibel-Captiva Road near Blind Pass, which was fixed after the street was temporarily closed to traffic, the Sanibel Police Department said.
Lightning struck a business on the 13000 block of Vector Avenue, leaving behind some visible damage to the roof, the South Trail Fire Department said. No injuries were reported, officials said.
Strong winds knocked concrete blocks off the structure of a future Buffalo Wild Wings located off Pine Island Road.
Around 500 people were without power in Pine Island before 8 p.m., according to the Lee County Electric Cooperative. Power outages also affected residents in Sanibel and southeast Cape Coral, where 2,000 LCEC customers were affected, according to officials.
Hail was reported in parts of Charlotte and Sarasota counties, according to the National Weather Service.

A severe thunderstorm warning issued by the National Weather Service expired late Tuesday afternoon. Much of the rain had passed by Tuesday evening, leaving less than two inches across Southwest Florida.

The weather served as a reminder of the lack of progress in repairs to homes damaged by an EF2 tornado in January. Two months later, rain has forced workers to abandon their projects again.

“It just seems like we’re always starting at square one, you know?” said Betty Oliveira, whose roof remains covered in tarp from storm damages. “We get a little bit done and ‘Oops!’ The weather isn’t agreeable with us so here we are again. Waiting.”