PENSACOLA, Fla. – The National Weather Service says the tornado that destroyed an apartment complex and dozens of homes in Pensacola Tuesday night was among 30 confirmed that struck from Texas to the Gulf Coast states, the Carolinas and Virginia over a 48-hour period.
Meteorologists said the tornado that destroyed the Morning Apartments and other homes and damaged a GE plant was an EF3, with winds about 135 mph at its peak and was on the ground for 8 miles. More than 70 homes and 24 apartments were damaged or destroyed in the storm.
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Three people were hospitalized with minor injuries.
Officials said Escambia County has not seen a tornado that strong in 45 years.
On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for Escambia and neighboring Santa Rosa counties. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office will have checkpoints in the area and only people who live in the area will be able to enter.
Gulf Power reported that 2,700 homes remained without power Thursday morning.
NWS said the front that swept across the Gulf states and up through the mid Atlantic caused at least 10 tornadoes in Louisiana. In addition to the Pensacola, tornadoes also struck Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. At least seven people were killed as a result of the storms, and dozens were hurt and hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed.
A rare February tornado watch was issued for parts of the Northeast. The watch area includes Washington, D.C., Delaware, central and eastern Maryland, southern New Jersey, southeast Pennsylvania and northern Virginia.
Drone image courtesy of John Oldshue, SoutheasternSky.com