Waterspout Water Tornado – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by aramiu
On Wednesday, an unanticipated tornado ripped through portions of Pinellas County, causing dozens of homes to sustain damage and leaving a path of devastation in communities west of Tampa.
The twister that significantly damaged mobile home neighborhoods in the Pinellas Park region was caused by a violent thunderstorm that passed across the area in the early evening.
Emergency personnel were observed knocking on doors to look for any storm casualties following the harsh weather.
Authorities reported no serious injuries related to the unwarned cell as of Wednesday night.
“Several residences have been damaged, but no injuries have been recorded as of yet. To enable emergency personnel to safely and efficiently carry out their duties, we kindly ask the public to stay away from the impacted locations,” the Largo Police Department said.
Residents in the area captured footage of the tornado tearing roof fragments and siding off buildings, causing debris to spin into the air.
First responders advised the public to avoid the damage area and refrain from going sightseeing, and by evening, emergency personnel were already working to remove debris from the streets.
Storms in the same area also produced hail from peas to quarters, according to the Ruskin office of the National Weather Service, which covers the Tampa Bay area.
Forecasters said an upper-level low moving across the Florida Peninsula is intensifying the state’s usual storm pattern.
Because of the increased instability caused by the collision of the state’s sea breezes, which can result in powerful wind gusts, hail, and the possibility of short-lived tornadoes, early summer storms are typically more violent.
On Thursday, NWS meteorologists and local disaster management officials are anticipated to assess the damage in order to ascertain the tornado’s path and intensity.
In several areas of Pinellas County, there were also reports of power outages. Utility workers were working through the night to get customers’ service back.
Since the majority of the peninsula’s rainfall usually occurs in June, July, August, and September, residents are always urged to keep a close eye on the weather during the summer.
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Chris began his writing as a hobby while attending Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Today he and his wife live in the Orlando area with their three children and dog.
