Tornado damaged homes, injured 2 in Starke on Christmas Eve
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thunderstorms that swept through Northeast Florida on Christmas Eve spawned a tornado in Starke that left two people injured, according to the National Weather Service Jacksonville. Crews surveyed the damage left in Bradford County in the wake of the strong storms and said it’s consistent with a tornado with maximum winds of 105 mph, classifying it an EF1. The NWS said the tornado developed just after 6 p.m. and left a damage path of about 4.13 miles. The tornado caused damage to trees, fences, and roofs on manufactured homes along its 4-mile path, NWS said. News4Jax saw damage along Highway 100 near Starke, where trees fell onto two homes and a car.
Widespread damage left in wake of Christmas Eve storms
MandarinSome of the most significant damage could be found in the Nature’s Walk subdivision in the Mandarin neighborhood, where a tree came crashing down atop the roof of a home. RELATED: Damage & power outages reported in wake of Christmas Eve storms“It sounded like a tornado,” he recalled. Fortunately for him, there was minimal damage because the uprooted tree came to rest on a support beam, which absorbed the brunt of the impact. OH, CHRISTMAS TREES | Here's a look at Claire Lane in Mandarin. The News4Jax Weather Authority believes some of the damage was caused by straight line winds.
When it comes to storms and protecting your home, err on the side of caution: We’ll tell you how
But regardless where you’re located or what types of weather your region regularly experiences, it’s always best to remain vigilant. When it comes to hurricanes and big storms, there’s always so much talk about how to prepare the insides of our homes. Therefore, it’s always better to err on the side of caution, he added. “There’s nothing wrong with being too careful.”So, the next time a big storm’s coming to town, walk around the exterior of your house, your property or your yard. You could even turn this into a project, moving just a few belongings a day, leading up to the storm.
Lake City mother and daughter survive intense storm
LAKE CITY, Fla. – A Lake City woman and her mother are thanking God they are alive after a tree crashed into their mobile home before dawn Wednesday. Just before 5 a.m., Campe received a News4Jax weather alert saying, “Take cover now. “I believe that wholeheartedly was a sign of God and he protected us with this," Campe said. Columbia County Emergency Management told News4Jax two other homes received storm damage early Wednesday morning but there were no significant injuries. The National Weather Service will go to Campe’s home to take pictures and determine whether straight-line winds or a tornado caused the damage.
Looming hurricane season adds to fears of compounded emergency during pandemic
Emergency management specialists agree the effects of a pandemic are comparable to a hurricane. The American Meteorological Society went as far as to say the coronavirus pandemic is the equivalent of the entire nation being hit with a Category 5 hurricane. But specialists are facing the fact the pandemic situation could become a double disaster as hurricane season officially starts on June 1. A double disaster could turn triple threat as forecaster expects the tropics to generate an above-average storm season. The American Meteorological Society released an official statement on the matter, saying, “Do not let the virus prevent you from seeking refuge from a tornado.
Dust cloud subsides; I-10 in Madison, Suwannee counties reopens
Dust blown from several freshly plowed fields near Interstate 10 in Madison and Suwanee counties due to Thursday’s gusty winds dropped visibility to near zero and forced the Florida Highway Patrol detour traffic off the highway for hours. I-10 was closed both directions for part of Madison and Suwanne counties between the 263 and 271 mile markers from before noon until 5:15 p.m. Morning Show meteorologist Richard Nunn said the high winds were part of a line of severe storms moving across the state from the west. Sustained wind gusts of 20 mph are expected in the afternoon and gusts could reach 35 mph.
Severe weather puts a damper on holiday plans nationwide
JACKSONVILLE, Fla – Severe weather Monday is putting a damper on holiday travel nationwide. Millions are effected by nasty weather just as we enter into one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Closer to home, flights are on schedule at Jacksonville International Airport at last check Monday morning. TSA reccommends arriving 2 hours early for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. Find more TSA travel guideline here.