Tornado Warning Covers Florida Nuclear Plant as Severe Storms Hit Multiple States
Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail and a possible tornado prompted National Weather Service warnings Sunday across parts of Florida, North Dakota, Montana and Arizona.
Tornado Warning Issued for Florida Counties
The National Weather Service in Melbourne issued a Tornado Warning for southeastern St. Lucie County and northeastern Martin County in east-central Florida on Sunday. The warning was in effect until 7 p.m. EDT. At around 6:28 p.m. EDT, the National Weather Service said a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Walton and was nearly stationary. Radar indicated rotation associated with the storm. The warning identified the main hazard as a tornado and cautioned that flying debris could be dangerous. The storm could also damage or destroy mobile homes and cause damage to roofs, windows, vehicles and trees. Areas in the storm's path included Walton, Stuart and the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant around 6:30 p.m. Other locations mentioned included Hutchinson Island South. Residents in the warned areas were urged to take shelter immediately and move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows. The warning stated, "TAKE COVER NOW! Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris." The warning was based on radar-indicated rotation, which means a tornado was not necessarily confirmed on the ground. [3]
Resident Videos Show Possible Funnel Cloud
Videos allegedly showing conditions near Port St. Lucie and Jensen Beach, Florida, have surfaced on social media. The footage appears to show a possible funnel cloud or severe thunderstorm in the area as a tornado warning was issued for parts of St. Lucie and Martin counties on Sunday. There has been no independent confirmation of a tornado touchdown in the area at this time. Walton and Stuart were among the communities mentioned in the warning, while the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant is located within the affected region. Several local residents took to social media to share videos of the funnel cloud, with some saying they believed it was a tornado. One resident wrote on X, "Make sure you’re all safe!! Had a Tornado starting behind my house." Another added, "We just got a lil afternoon tornado where I live. Just a typical Florida thunderstorm lol." [3]
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota
At 5:45 p.m. MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles south of Scranton, or 15 miles southeast of Bowman, moving southeast at 20 mph. The hazard included two-inch hail and 60 mph wind gusts according to radar indicated sources. Impacts noted that people and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include Scranton, Reeder, Gascoyne and Bowman Haley Dam. [1] A separate warning covered western Adams County in southwestern North Dakota, eastern Bowman County in southwestern North Dakota, west central Hettinger County in southwestern North Dakota and southeastern Slope County in southwestern North Dakota until 6:15 p.m. MDT. At 5:12 p.m. MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles north of Bowman, moving southeast at 15 mph. The hazard included 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. [5]
Warnings Extend to Montana and Arizona
The National Weather Service in Glasgow issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for northeastern Phillips County in northeastern Montana until 6:15 p.m. MDT. At 5:19 p.m. MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Dodson, or 16 miles northwest of Malta, moving east at 40 mph. The hazard included 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail according to radar indicated sources. Impacts noted that hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include areas near Dodson. [4] In Arizona, at 4:37 p.m. MST, a severe thunderstorm was located over Tubac, moving southwest at 15 mph. The hazard included 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail according to radar indicated sources. Impacts noted that hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include Tubac, Tumacacori and Amado. This includes Interstate 19 between mile markers 18 and 29. [2]
Safety Guidance from National Weather Service
Impacts cited across the warnings include injury to people and animals outdoors, hail damage to roofs, siding, windows and vehicles, and wind damage to trees and structures. The Florida warning stated, "TAKE COVER NOW! Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris." [3] Similar guidance on moving to interior rooms on the lowest floor and protecting against flying debris appeared in the North Dakota alerts that warned of two-inch hail and 60 mph winds. [1] [5] The Montana and Arizona warnings reinforced expectations of hail damage to vehicles along with wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees while urging immediate sheltering. [4] [2]
What to watch next includes the southeastward movement of the North Dakota storms at 20 mph or 15 mph and the eastward progress of the Montana storm at 40 mph, along with continued radar monitoring for any additional rotation or hail growth in the warned areas.
