Tornado damages homes in St. Johns County.
Officials are investigating after a tornado touched down in northeastern Florida as strong thunderstorms moved across the area Thursday afternoon.
Officials said the maximum winds were 90 to 100 mph.
The same line of storms is making its way through Central Florida. Much of our region remains under a Tornado Watch until 3 p.m. The following areas are affected: Alachua, Gilchrist, Levy, Dixie, Marion, Volusia, Lake, and Sumter counties.
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado with 90 to 100 mph winds hit the TrailMark and Samara Lakes neighborhoods.
Radar indicated rotation in the storm near World Golf Village on April 11, at 11:41 a.m. According to St. Johns Fire Rescue, a possible tornado touched down in the Trailmark subdivision, damaging several homes.
The roofs of some homes in the TrailMark subdivision west of Interstate 95 also were damaged, Sheriff Rob Hardwick said. Other storm damage was reported in the Samara Lakes subdivision off Pacetti Road, but no major damage was reported, officials say.
This is the second tornado to hit the St. Augustine area in a week. An EF-0 tornado touched down in the Beacon Lake neighborhood in northern St. Johns County near U.S. Highway 1, damaging roofs, fences, and patio furniture with winds up to 70 to 80 mph at its peak along a path measuring one-quarter of a mile," the National Weather Service survey said.
