Photos: Cape Coral Tornado Damaged 178 Structures

CAPE CORAL, FL — Thunderstorms that moved in from the Gulf of Mexico Saturday night left more than rain in their wake.

An EF-2 tornado with estimated high winds of 132 mph also ripped through a path of 3.4 miles in Cape Coral around 6:45 p.m., leaving a swatch of damage behind.

“Thankfully no one died,” said Tom Dougherty, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Ruskin Office. “But, we had three injuries.”

Dougherty said an estimated 178 structures were damaged as the tornado made its way through the community. One home was completely destroyed and 14 others suffered “major damage.” The remaining structures all had relatively minor damage.

“This really isn’t all that rare,” Dougherty said of a tornado as big as Saturday’s forming along Florida’s Gulf coast. “(It) usually happens every couple of years.”

He explained that when strong thunderstorms push off the Gulf, they can create tornado activity. Bigger storms and tornadoes tend to go “hand-in-hand” with El Nino events, such as the one impacting Florida’s weather this winter.

See Also:

• Severe Storms, Tornadoes in Tampa Bay’s Winter Forecast
• Workweek Weather: Chilly Days Ahead

Tornado activity, Dougherty said, “kind of falls into place with that.” El Nino winters bring more rain and storm activity to Florida, increasing the chances for tornado formation.

As winter continues, Tampa Bay area residents are urged to keep an eye on the weather. Should tornadoes form in the Bay area, Dougherty said residents should move into interior rooms of structures and stay away from windows. Door frames in interior rooms are good locations to wait out a twister because they are supporting structures.

Motorists caught on roads when tornadoes tear through an area are urged to find a low-lying place to retreat to, such as a ditch. Staying in a vehicle is not recommended since some tornadoes are strong enough to pick up vehicles.

The forecast calls for a chilly, but mild start to the workweek. Storm chances move in as the week comes to a close.

To learn more about tornado safety, visit the National Weather Service online.

Photos from the National Weather Service Tampa Bay Facebook page