VIDEO: Funnel cloud spotted as severe weather hits Florida
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A funnel cloud was spotted in Fort Lauderdale as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued several tornado warnings Saturday evening for South Florida.
Video captured by @yungnavy_ on Twitter shows the funnel cloud whipping up debris.
“Tornado didn’t touch down, just like the Dolphins tomorrow,” the user said.
Footage captured by James Haye shows the funnel cloud in the distance, and what appears to be an explosion.
“Daddy there’s a tornado,” a kid is heard saying in the background of this video. “There’s a tornado.”
NWS issued a tornado warning for Fort Lauderdale and Sunrise until 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean J. Trantalis released a statement saying:
Earlier this evening, at just before 6 pm, the City of Fort Lauderdale experienced a tornado that formed over land and touched down just west of Las Olas, near the intracoastal waterway. As this tornado gained strength, it made contact with some structures, power lines, and marine vessels in that immediate area. The tornado then moved swiftly eastward until it reached the ocean, no longer impacting land or the intracoastal.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue (FLFR ) promptly responded to reports of damage, including a damaged vessel at 1 Las Olas Circle and damage to a home at 1733 SE 10th Street. Our teams, both on land and on our fireboat, assessed vessels within the Las Olas basin and found that no one was injured. Some vessels had minor damage. Thankfully, we did not need to assist any vessels in distress. Property and vessel damage have not displaced any residents at this time.
– **Area Assessment:** FLFR conducted an extensive area assessment from Bahia Mar to Sunrise Boulevard to ensure that no one was injured and no structures were significantly damaged.
– **Restoration Efforts:** FPL crews are working diligently to restore power to affected areas. Our city crews are actively clearing streets to ensure your safety. We will also schedule bulk pickup for debris removal this Monday and Tuesday.
While this incident has caused some disruption, we are fortunate that there were no injuries reported and that the damage appears to be manageable. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to restore normalcy.
Please stay safe and be vigilant, especially if you’re in the affected areas.
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