The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes hit Pasco County May 12.
Survey teams went to the area near Hudson May 13 to investigate reports of damage after storms moved through the area off the Gulf.
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The team determined two EF-0 tornadoes were on the ground near Hudson, leaving behind some damage but no injuries or fatalities.
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EF-0 tornado touches down near Hudson, Florida
A cluster of thunderstorms over the Gulf of America moved over Florida’s western coast near Hudson in Pasco County during the afternoon May 12.
The EF-0 tornado touched down at 2:14 p.m. May 12 south of Hudson, crossed over Highway 19, and traveled about 1.19 miles before dissipating, according to meteorologist Tony Hurt with the National Weather Service Tampa Bay via call May 14.
The National Weather Service said the tornado was on the ground for five minutes.
Maximum wind gusts were estimated at 85 mph, and the tornado was estimated to be about a 400 yards wide.
Second EF-0 tornado touches down in Pasco County minutes later
Less than 30 minutes after the first tornado touched down in Pasco County, a second one touched down at 2:43 p.m., about five miles away near the Shady Hills community.
“There was enough rotation still there to tighten back up to form a second tornado,” Hurt said.
Wind gusts were estimated to hit 85 mph. The EF-0 tornado was on the ground for 0.69 miles and was about 250 yards wide, Hurt said.
It also was on the ground about five minutes.
What damage was caused by tornadoes that hit near Hudson, Florida?
There was minor damage from the two tornadoes, primarily to roofs, carports, lanais and trees, Hurt said.
Damage from the first tornado “was initially observed along Saltwater Boulevard, where a tree branch was snapped and fell onto a power line,” the National Weather Service said.
“Additional damage points were noted further east along Saltwater Boulevard, with two homes suffering partial roof damage or loss. Additional homes suffered various degrees of roof, lanai or carport damage at points northward across Puffin, Heron and Curlew lanes, while tree damage was noted across nearby Osprey and Gull Lanes.”
Damage from the Shady Hills tornado “consisted largely of snapped tree limbs and branches, although a large tree was uprooted and downed onto a mobile home along Eden Avenue,” the National Weather Service said.
What is an EF-0 tornado?
Tornadoes are ranked using the Enhanced Fujita Scale:
Are there many tornadoes in Florida?
Florida has a higher frequency of tornadoes than any other state in the Southeas, according to the Florida Climate Center.
The state even has a higher frequency of tornadoes per 10,000 square miles than any other state, including Oklahoma.
“The coast between Tampa Bay and Fort Myers has a particularly high incidence, as do the western panhandle and parts of the Atlantic Coast, and the most powerful usually strike in the spring, according to the Climate Center.
While tornadoes can form in all seasons, many of Florida’s tornadoes occur in the spring and summer months, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Generally, tornadoes in Florida form:
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Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://tallahassee.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: ‘We’re in it!’ 2 tornadoes touch down minutes apart in Florida
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
