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Severe Thunderstorms Damage Buildings, Topple Trees in Florida; Tornadoes Confirmed in Flagler, St. Johns Counties

By Jan Wesner Childs

December 14, 2019

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At a Glance

  • The storms spawned at least two tornadoes.
  • Homes were damaged in Palm Coast.
  • Buildings were also damaged in Putnam County.
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Severe thunderstorms and at least two tornadoes damaged buildings and downed trees in parts of Central and North Florida Saturday morning.

A severe thunderstorm with a tornado warning and radar-indicated rotation in Flagler County downed numerous trees and damaged several structures in Korona, including one home with its roof blown off and windows blown out. A tree was downed on a home in Bulowville and debris was reported across roads on the south side of Flagler Beach. Damage was also reported in Bunnell.

The National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado with peak winds of 110 mph had moved across the county for about 26 minutes, in a path nearly 20 miles long.

Photos posted to social media by WESH showed roof damage, a crushed car and a camper blown over.

Buildings were damaged in a neighborhood in Palm Coast, also in Flagler County.

"Early this morning crews responded to reports of damage from an unconfirmed tornado in the area of Creek Bluff Run," the Palm Coast Fire Department said on Twitter. "Widespread damage reported throughout the neighborhood. No injuries reported."

(MORE: Eastern Storm May Become a Bomb Cyclone, But Will Produce More Rain Than Snow)

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To the north, in St. Johns County, a spotter reported a small tornado damaged trees and a roof just after 5 a.m. Saturday in Elkton, Florida, about 40 miles south-southeast of Jacksonville.

The National Weather Service confirmed a brief EF0 tornado with peak winds of 85 mph had moved through the Elkton area, in a path less than one-quarter mile long.

Photos and video posted to social media by WJAX showed a kitchen countertop business that was heavily damaged.

Another severe thunderstorm produced several areas of damage in just over an hour's time from just south of Gainesville to just southwest of St. Augustine. Numerous trees and power lines were downed near Micanopy and Rochelle, south of Gainesville, just before 4 a.m.

Damage to an unknown number of buildings, numerous toppled trees and downed power lines were reported in parts of Putnam County, east of Gainesville.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

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