Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena - CIG

FLORIDA, West CentralHighlands CountyStorm Data and Unusual Weather PhenomenaTimePath PathNumber ofEstimatedLocal/ Length WidthPersonsDamageLocation DateStandard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of Storm1 W Avon Park 09 0127EST0 0 150K 0March 1998Thunderstorm WindDownburst winds from a thunderstorm caused structural damage to several metal buildings and sheds along State Road 64 near theintersection of U.S. Highway 27 in Avon Park. The downburst winds blew from north northwest to south southeast which damage dseveral north facing roof overhangs and facades of commercial buildings along State Road 64.Polk County7 SE Lake Wales to 09 0128EST 10.4 250 0 4 2M 0 Tornado (F2)16 E Lake Wales0137ESTA tornado (F0) touched down in rural semi-wooded swampland, seven miles southeast of Lake Wales in Southwest Polk County.Ground survey indicated that the tornado moved northeast across Lake-In-The-Water Road and caused sporadic minor damage tothe roofs of a few homes and downed trees and branches in the Oakwood Drive subdivision. The tornado continued northeast,widened to 250 yards and intensified to F2 strength where it destroyed or severely damaged several structures along Doherty Drive.Two mobile homes that took a direct hit from the F2 tornado along Doherty Drive were completely disintegrated with only framerails and tie downs intact. Meanwhile, in close proximity to the crushed mobile homes, a well-built home, with rebar-pouredconcrete, reinforced cinder block walls and a hip roof, suffered minor structural and roofing tile damage after taking a direct hit bythe F2 tornado on Doherty Drive. A pick-up truck parked adjacent to the well-built home was pushed 30 feet from its originalresting place by the tornadic wind.Residents along Doherty Drive reported the sound of the tornado resembled that of a large freight train. One severely injuredresident on Doherty Drive was tossed over 50 feet into the street from his mobile home that was destroyed by the tornado.A storage facility with unsupported cinder block walls and a high unsupported roof span was demolished by the tornadic wind.Tornado ground survey indicated that a large ten foot plus wide wood door entrance failed and allowed the tornadic wind to enter thecommercial structure and exert extreme pressure on the outer load bearing walls which collapsed outward.Aerial survey indicated that the tornado weakened to F1 strength and continued northeast across rural pasture and semi-woodedswampland where it caused severe damage to a few mobile homes, barns, fences and sheds before it crossed State Road 60, onequarter mile west of Tiger Lake Road, or 11.5 miles east of Lake Wales.The tornado downed large power lines along State Road 60 and continued northeast where it snapped tree tops and branches beforeit lifted and dissipated along the southwest shore of Lake Kissimmee.The tornado in all destroyed or severely damaged twelve homes, caused moderate to slight damage to an additional fourteen homes,severely damaged four commercial buildings and damaged two recreational vehicles. The tornado also snapped several large powerpoles, downed numerous power lines and uprooted or snapped several large trees. Tornado damage to structures was estimated atone million dollars while damage to the electrical infrastructure was estimated at one million dollars.Sarasota CountyManasota 09 0130EST0140EST0 0 75K 0 Thunderstorm WindThunderstorm winds damaged porch enclosures of ten to fifteen mobile homes on the 6100 block of Manasota Key Road.Charlotte CountyEnglewood to 09 0130EST0 0 80K 0 Thunderstorm WindPort Charlotte0145ESTThunderstorm winds downed several large trees, power lines and damaged the roofs of nine mobile homes from Englewood to PortCharlotte. Most of the wind damage occurred from Dearborn to Beach Street in Engelwood where roof, soffit and aluminum tri mmaterials were ripped from mobile homes.Manatee County27 E Bradenton 09100800EST0800EST0 0 0 0 River FloodThe Manatee River at Myakka Head along State Road 64 crested at 7.98 feet on the 10th, nearly a foot above the flood stage ofseven feet.De Soto County1 W Arcadia 10140800EST0800EST0 0 20K 0 River FloodThe Peace River along State Road 70 in Arcadia crested at 11.62 feet on the 11th, over a half foot above the flood stage of elevenfeet.44 38