Waterspout-turned-tornado swept coast as thunderstorms pounded South Florida
A waterspout churning along the Golden Beach coastline captured the attention of social media and forecasters on Wednesday afternoon.
The waterspout was a part of lingering storms that have been sweeping South Florida, and other parts of the state, since Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service confirmed Wednesday evening that the waterspout had made landfall forming into a tornado.
The tornado damages were confined to broken and snapped tree branches, a couple of newly-planted trees toppled, several damaged and twisted metal gates and tossed lawn and patio furniture.
The damage was consistent with a EF-0 intensity, according to forecasters, although one or two spots could have experienced winds close to the EF-1 threshold at 80-85 mph.
A strong thunderstorm passing over parts of Miami, including Liberty City, and heading north had meteorologists concerned around 9 a.m.
The National Weather Service issued an advisory to warn of potential funnel clouds associated with the thunderstorm, which was moving north at 15 mph.
There is also some threatening weather in the upper Keys and South Miami-Dade, according to the service.
Cities and locales affected included Miami, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, North Miami, Opa-Locka, Miami Springs, Miami Shores, North Bay Village, El Portal, Gladeview, Westview, PortMiami, downtown Miami, Coconut Grove, Kendall, West Little River, Liberty City, Marlins Park, Pinewood, Aventura, Golden Beach and Little Haiti.
According to the weather service, and local forecasters, including CBS4’s Lissette Gonzalez, conditions are favorable for the formation of more storms that could yield tornadoes into the day.
Marine warning, waterspout
The National Weather Service issued a marine warning due to the confirmed waterspout in Aventura and Golden Beach.
Golden Beach officials the waterspout caused “minimal damage to vegetation” but didn’t damage any buildings in the single-family home community along the ocean.
Boaters are asked to seek safe harbor if anywhere near coastal waters from Deerfield Beach to Ocean Reef and Biscayne Bay.
Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are likely for the rest of Wednesday, into the early evening hours, the weather service said. Expect lightning, strong wind gusts up to 50 mph, hail that could be dime-sized, funnel clouds, and brief heavy downpours.
These storms will be felt mostly across the interior and eastern portions of South Florida, according to the service.
Flooding is possible.
Storm chances high through weekend
Expect more of the same through the week as rain chances hit 70% Thursday and run 50% into the weekend.
South Florida could also see an increase in deeper tropical moisture early next week as the National Hurricane Center monitors a few areas in the Atlantic.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 10:05 AM.
