The National Weather Service said a strong storm that ripped through western St. Johns County Wednesday afternoon did, in fact, spawn a tornado.
The EF-0 twister was about 150 yards wide with 80 mph winds and was on the ground for about half a mile, knocking down trees and ripping up several barns and stables in Elkton.
It came without a tornado warning from a strong thunderstorm, and luckily, no one was hurt, though some buildings were badly damaged.
The same thing happened two months ago in San Marco where damage from the storm is still visible.
That's the third time in the past two years that a twister has come through the area without any tornado watches or warnings.
In April, an EF-1 cut a path through San Marco and the Southside, and in August 2013, an EF-2 with 115 mph winds ripped through Fort Caroline. One person had minor injuries.
Scott Cordero is the meteorologist in charge of Jacksonville's National Weather Service office. He said some tornadoes just can't be predicted.
"A tornado can form very quickly in any severe thunderstorm," Cordero said.
The Weather Service did send out a severe thunderstorm warning, which tells people that tornadoes are possible.
"So if the winds are going 85 mph like this, going in a straight fashion, either way it is going to produce damage across an area," Cordero said.
That's why Cordero said people need to pay attention and take all warnings seriously.
"When we have a severe thunderstorm warning, or tornado warning, it is time for people to take action, go into the most interior room in your house, and bring your family there to be safe," he said.
Cordero said these small tornadoes come through our area every couple months, but the good news is they don't usually cause any serious injuries. He said radar technology is getting better and in the future, they'll be able to predict more of what's about to happen. He said have a weather radio and have a plan, just in case.