On Thursday, numerous tornadoes were recorded in Florida and Georgia, while a new storm brought the possibility of severe weather and tornadoes to Texas. On Thursday, seven tornadoes were recorded over southern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, including a big, potentially devastating tornado that ripped through Hosford, located west of Tallahassee. Wind gusts in a straight line reached 76 miles per hour at Panama City, Florida, as strong thunderstorms moved eastward through the Southeast of Big Bend.
Images captured at the site revealed the devastation, with automobiles stacked on top of one another and garbage scattered over the streets. Tallahassee residents were warned to seek shelter from heavy thunderstorms by the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service issued a statement warning of the possibility of more tornadic circulations. On Thursday, the Southeast was again on high alert for severe weather as storms continued to strike the region.
The Panama City, Beach Police Department, reports that a 33-year-old man from Illinois was hit by lightning while on a pier there on Thursday. The event occurred around lunchtime, and the man was taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The police department issued a message on Twitter advising drivers to avoid PGA Blvd and US 1 due to road closures. In a separate tweet, the village of North Palm Peach reported that a tornado had touched down in the area near the Community Center on Prosperity Farms Road at around 5:45 p.m. The village authorities noted that there were no injuries reported in connection with the tornado but cautioned the public to stay alert and avoid potential hazards like power lines, while limiting outside activity.
Severe weather hit Brevard County, Florida, on Thursday night, a day after a rare hail storm rocked the southern half of the state.
Similar storms have been a problem all week, especially in northern Texas and Florida. More than 37 million people in eight states were in danger from severe weather on Thursday.
On Saturday afternoon, a destructive tornado with winds reaching up to 100 mph (160 kph) hit Palm Beach Gardens near Miami, Florida, causing significant damage to the area. The tornado progressed northeast towards the coast, leaving overturned cars, uprooted trees, and damaged homes. The strong winds caused tree branches to fly dangerously and entire trees to collapse onto vehicles. An apartment building also lost its roof, and the storm shattered the windows of homes and cars. The tornado was part of the second consecutive day of severe weather to hit Florida, causing power outages and disruption to the affected residents.
Florida experienced severe weather for the second consecutive day on Sunday after a tornado wreaked havoc on residential areas in South Florida, causing widespread damage to property and infrastructure. The tornado was responsible for flipping cars, snapping trees, and cutting power to thousands of homes. The following day, the situation worsened as more severe weather hit the area, increasing the danger for residents.
The National Weather Service stated that damaging gusts, large hail, and a few tornadoes are possible.
The National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida, issued several severe weather warnings and watches, including for the region around the Kennedy Space Center, as multiple tornadoes were reported. Brevard County, which had already been hit by a rare hail storm the day before, experienced intense weather Thursday night. Parts of the county experienced more hail and downpours as thunderstorms moved through the area.
Local weather watchers report that Texas and Florida were hit by severe thunderstorms on Wednesday evening and Thursday, which caused wind gusts of up to 85 miles per hour in certain areas. According to reports made by local authorities, these storms produced mini tornadoes and hail as large as grapefruit, both of which damaged houses and automobiles. By Thursday afternoon, 130 hail reports had been filed by National Weather Service spotters including a report of massive hail in Waco, Texas, measuring 4.5 inches in diameter. Additionally, in the same region, two small tornadoes were detected.
Multiple tornadoes have already been reported in Florida, damaging homes, cars, and other buildings. The harsh weather has brought power outages, road closures, and other inconveniences to the impacted communities. Officials are warning people to be vigilant and take safety measures. Florida’s government authorities are now taking every possible step to recover from the damage.