BREAKING NEWS: 2 dead, 7 injured in Manatee Co. as multiple tornadoes hit area | Watch live online
Weather information you can trust at
Sarasota News | Mysuncoast.com and ABC 7: ABC 7 MySuncoast.com Weather Center or follow me on Facebook at
Facebook | Posted: Saturday, January 16, 2016 3:45 pm
siesta key tornado damange
Reported tornadoes ripped through the Suncoast area between 3 and 4 a.m. on Sunday, killing two people and injuring at least seven.
A man and women were killed inside their mobile home on Albritton Road in Duette, according to sheriff's deputies. A third adult and four children were taken to the hospital. More information will be released soon.
Watch Live Storm Coverage Online
No major injuries have been reported in Sarasota County.
Ten tornado warning were issued over a two-hour period early with the first coming at 2:56 a.m. for Siesta Key. The next, at 3:28, was issued for the Lakewood Ranch area. That tornado moved north into Duette. Then, at 3:40, another tornado was issued for the same area in Siesta Key. Finally, the last warning came at 5:07 a.m. for the Port Charlotte area.
Rarely do two tornadoes make their way through the same area, such as what happened Sunday morning on Siesta Key, especially one within a half hour of another.
The last time a tornado of this caliber, an EF2, hit the Suncoast was in March 1985, according to Chief Meteorologist BoB Harrigan. An EF2 tornado has winds of 111-135 mph.
About 17,000 homes in Sarasota County and 3,000 in Manatee Country remain without power, according to Florida Power and Light.
Most of the storm damage in Sarasota occurred on Siesta Key. A home on Baywinds Lane was completely destroyed and one woman was trapped inside on the second floor. Firefighters were able to rescue her using an inflatable lift to brace the structure. The woman, who had no major injuries, was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Traffic will be restricted most of the morning during cleanup. Midnight Pass was covered with heavy debris.
One of the tornadoes, estimated at about 70 mph, knocked down numerous trees and damaged buildings near Highway 41 and Clark Road.
The severe weather threat was lessened for Manatee, Sarasota, Desoto and Hardee counties at around 5:30 a.m.
Waves up to 5 and 7 feet could cause minor water issues. Some flooding was reported around the 3200 block of Central Avenue, according to the Sarasota Police Department
Stay with ABC 7 WWSB for continued updates.
BREAKING NEWS: 2 dead, 7 injured in Manatee Co. as multiple tornadoes hit area - Sarasota News | Mysuncoast.com and ABC 7: Local News