By:
Anna Allen[/align]About 3:00 a.m. this morning, storms that had developed offshore began moving into coastal areas of Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Severe thunderstorms warning were posted. The storms carried high wind, heavy rain, possible hail and lightning. Earlier on Saturday, a Tornado Watch was posted through Sunday morningas conditions looked favorablefor tornadic activity.
At 4:30 the National Weather Service issued a TORNADO WARNING for western Pasco County as rotation was detected by Doppler radar near New Port Richey. The rotating cell moved through central Pasco, along or near State Road 52.It eventually moved near Dade City and then into southern Sumter County where it exited at 6:00 a.m. into Lake County. It was too dark to tell if the storm actually produced a tornado but there were reports from a Land O' Lakes detention faciltiy of damage with overturned cars and a roof torn off. It is uncertain whether the damage was from high winds, which were measured at 30 mph, or from a tornado.
I spoke to meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Ruskin. As of 7:00 am, an investigator is enroute to Pasco to access the damage. They received calls of street flooding in Port Richey, awning damage in New Port Richey, and 78 mph wind at the Clearwater Pier. There may be damage in the area.
This severe weather was a result of the remnants of Tropical Storm Olga. But the next wave of severe weather will come from a cold front that will push through the Bay area today. It will keep our winds high today and tomorrow, with both a HIGH SURF ADVISORY and LAKE WIND ADVISORY in place.
Also, a FREEZE WARNING goes into effect for Hernando, Citrus, Sumter and Levy couties for early Monday morning. Prepare your pets and plants accordingly.
This one missed us by 6 miles!.....Thank you Lord!....We will get the freeze, but we can handle that!
This was close this morning!
