Tornado Causes Damage in Clearwater Beach, Florida
Clearwater Beach, Florida experienced severe weather on Thursday as a reported tornado swept through the area, causing damage to homes, cars, and businesses. The Clearwater Police Department reported that debris from the tornado impaled a vehicle, illustrating the destructive force of the storm.
No injuries were reported in Clearwater Beach, but at least two homes were damaged as the tornado made landfall early Thursday morning. A 90-year-old woman who was asleep in her home miraculously escaped unharmed when the storm caused a wall and the roof of her house to collapse. Clearwater Fire and Rescue spokesperson, Rob Shaw, stated that the woman woke up to the sound of glass breaking, pulled the covers up over her head, and rode out the storm. Photos from the scene showed debris scattered through the streets, with a gutter from a home impaling a car’s windshield.
The National Weather Service will survey the damage to confirm if it was indeed caused by a tornado and to determine its strength. Further damage was reported about 65 miles north in Crystal River, where a separate potential tornado caused significant damage to numerous homes and businesses. Despite the extensive damage, Crystal River Mayor Joe Meek stated that there were no reported major injuries or deaths in the city, which he described as a miracle considering the condition some houses were left in.
The storms continued east across Florida, reaching northeast parts of the state. In Palm Coast, an EF2 tornado with winds of 115 mph caused a mile-long path of damage through the city. Several homes in Palm Coast’s Indian Trails neighborhood suffered major structural damage, but luckily, there were no injuries reported. Photos posted on social media by the Palm Coast government showed a flipped car, roof damage, and insulation strewn about yards.
Millions of Floridians were under a tornado watch throughout Thursday afternoon as the storm system moved across the state. Wind gusts of 30-40 mph and heavy rain were expected, particularly in northern parts of the state. The storm system is expected to move off into the Atlantic waters during the early afternoon, with heavy rainfall and thunderstorms tapering off by the evening.
Overall, residents of Clearwater Beach and other affected areas in Florida are assessing the damage caused by the tornadoes and beginning the cleanup process. Despite the destruction, it is a relief that no major injuries or deaths have been reported thus far.