Waterspout Water Tornado – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by aramiu
On Saturday, a tornado tore through Fort Lauderdale, Florida, damaging power lines and yachts.
The National Weather Service office in Miami states that at approximately 5:50 p.m. EST, they got numerous phone calls and social media claims of a twister near Federal Highway. Approximately five minutes before the twister was recorded, the NWS issued a Tornado Warning for the storm.
There have been no reported injuries, according to Fort Lauderdale officials’ Facebook post, and the storm’s damage looks to be minimal.
A couple from New York received a Tornado Warning notice on their iPhones while they were in South Florida supporting the Buffalo Bills. They recorded the whole incident on camera as they watched the tornado pass through a marina and a residential neighborhood moments later.
“We were feeling very pleased with ourselves for missing the snow,” Meghan Collins told FOX Weather. “Then, we got more than we bargained for.”
The mayor of Fort Lauderdale announced that debris removal would happen on Monday and Tuesday, and utility workers were trying to bring power back to the area.
After assessing the damage on Sunday, a NWS team identified the tornado as an EF-0 with top speeds of 80 mph.
On Saturday, there were numerous reports of additional extreme weather, including damaging wind gusts, funnel clouds, and a waterspout, throughout the Sunshine State. 52 mph was the fastest recorded thunderstorm wind gust close to Pine Island.
The storms are linked to a cold front that is trailing behind a strong nor’easter that is this weekend advancing across the East Coast. As the storm rips across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, it has left a mix of rain, snow, and ice behind.
In the upcoming days, another strong storm is expected to pass the eastern half of the United States, potentially bringing with it more severe weather to Florida.
Stories that matter are our priority. At Florida Insider, we make sure that the information we provide our readers is accurate, easy-to-read, and informative. Whether you are interested in business, education, government, history, sports, real estate, nature or travel: we have something for everyone. Follow along for the best stories in the Sunshine State.
Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
