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Florida Hammered by Severe Storms, Tornadoes; Dozens of Homes Damaged
Florida Hammered by Severe Storms, Tornadoes; Dozens of Homes Damaged
Jan 17, 2024 3:45 PM

At a Glance

Four EF0 tornadoes touched down in west-central Florida on Thursday.Tampa's Sunshine Skyway Bridge was closed for much of Friday because of strong winds.At least 80 mobile homes were damaged by storms Thursday in Pasco County.A 90-year-old woman was injured by tornado damage Thursday in Polk County.

Multiple rounds of severe weather slammed Florida on Thursday, triggering at least four tornadoes that caused damage and brought down trees. Friday morning, wind gusts 60 mph and stronger hindered travel across a key bridge in the Tampa area.

The Florida Highway Patrol Friday morning as the area was placed under a high wind advisory, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The bridge was reopened late Friday afternoon, but high-profile vehicles were still banned.

At least one serious injury was blamed on Thursday's storms. Ninety-year-old Marie Weddle was injured when the roof of her Polk County condominium collapsed, striking her on the head, the Associated Press reported.

The National Weather Service later confirmed that an EF0 had touched down at the Lake Wales condominium. It traveled less than a mile and top winds reached 75 mph. A second EF0 touched down just east of Fort Meade. No buildings were damaged in that incident, but trees were downed.

(MORE: Another Storm System Coming after Christmas)

In Pasco County, about in a mobile home park Thursday morning by straight-line winds during a strong thunderstorm, CBS12 reported. Five of the damaged homes were deemed unsafe.

Pasco County Emergency Management Director Andrew Fossa told WFLA.com that first responders were "."

Resident Loren Lemon told the news station high winds tore the roof off her home.

"I would guesstimate that wind was 60 miles an hour at least," she said. "It was blowing down the street."

(MORE: The Strangest Things We Saw in 2018's Weather)

In Manatee County near Tampa, Debbie Rhodden and her family say they were caught off guard Thursday morning when a tornado tore through their neighborhood.

"It was quite frightening. It was . We could have been killed. Very lucky," she told CBS News.

Manatee County emergency manager said a storm ripped the porch off a house and took trees down along Kibler Ranch Road in Myakka City, about 25 miles east of Sarasota.

The NWS later confirmed an EF0 tornado had briefly touched down.

Also in Manatee County, the Honor Animal Rescue in Bradenton shared on Facebook and said it was looking for people who could take in animals for a few days.

The storms prompted officials at Busch Gardens in Tampa to for the remainder of the day Thursday. The park is expected to reopen on Friday.

Other attractions that closed Thursday were Universal Orlando's Volcano Bay, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, SeaWorld's Aquatica and the Central Florida Zoo.

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