Overnight Tornadoes Tear Through Tampa Bay Region
Photo Credits: Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department
By Tampa Bay Living Magazine staff
Two long-track tornadoes caused significant damage in Citrus, Pinellas and Pasco counties overnight.
Citrus County and the Clearwater/Dunedin area will be the subject of two damage surveys. According to the National Weather Service, "There are other potential tornado impact areas that we will be assessing based on radar and damage reports, photos and videos submitted to us from emergency management and media, as well as a wealth of data mined from social media."
Damage was reported in northern Pinellas, Pasco and Citrus counties, but no injuries were reported. A third-floor wall of the Harbor Pointe condos in Dunedin was blown out during the storms, leaving a gaping hole.
Meanwhile, trucks in a Dunedin parking lot at Causeway Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard were flipped over, and store windows were blown out in the area.
Photo credits: Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department
Clearwater Police and Clearwater Fire & Rescue reacted to an apparent tornado touchdown on the north end of Clearwater Beach. Two homes on El Dorado Avenue were destroyed. The first emergency calls came in just before 2 a.m. No injuries were reported.
Citrus County officials have closed several roads in Crystal River due to damage from an apparent tornado. Highway 44 is closed in both directions from the U.S. Highway 19 intersection to Turkey Oak Drive, while Highway 19 is closed in both directions from West Fort Island Trail to Northeast Fifth Street.
A tornado watch remains in effect for all Tampa Bay area counties except Polk until 3 p.m.
Credits: Tampa Bay National Weather Service