Perilous
Times and Climate Change
Florida: Storm officials say 9 tornados raked Tampa Bay
Published April 01, 2011
Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The National Weather Service has confirmed
that nine tornados raked through the Tampa Bay region on Thursday.
As many as 18,000 residents remained without power Friday, a day
after the vicious storms destroyed dozens of homes, flooded road
and toppled trucks and small planes.
The weather service says the tornados struck Polk, Hillsborough
and Pinellas counties Thursday packing winds from 86 to 110 mph.
In Lakeland, a tent collapsed and injured seven people gathered
for the annual Sun 'n Fun aviation festival. A few small planes
had flipped over at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport.
There were multiple reports of small tornadoes across the region.
Strong winds blew a Carnival cruise ship from its dock at Cape
Canaveral.