Florida sees early morning storm damaging homes and business

Friday, October 13, 2023

Early morning storms swept across parts of Florida, leaving a trail of damage to vehicles, homes, and businesses.

The storm system, which moved through the state on Thursday, brought with it two possible tornadoes in Clearwater, near Tampa, with no reported injuries. Photos shared by the Clearwater Police Department showed gutters from a home piercing the windshield of a car.

The storms continued north into Citrus County, leading local officials to cancel public school classes for the day. The western part of Citrus County suffered significant damage from an unconfirmed tornado that struck the area overnight, according to school officials.

In Citrus County, multiple road closures were reported due to the storm, with a section of U.S. Highway 19, a major thoroughfare in the region, closed because of damage caused by the storms. Debris on the roads, localized flooding, and damage to mobile homes were visible in photos shared by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office.

The impact of these storms wasn’t confined to the Gulf Coast side of Florida. On the state’s Atlantic Coast, a tornado was reported in Palm Coast, around 60 miles south of Jacksonville, resulting in significant damage to the area, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries in Palm Coast, although the extent of the damage was not detailed in their social media statement.

As the morning continued, some tornado watches remained in effect in parts of central and north Florida, underlining the ongoing concern for severe weather in the region. Local authorities and residents are advised to exercise caution and stay updated on weather warnings as the situation unfolds.

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