NWS: At least 4 confirmed tornadoes in Bay Area Friday
TAMPA (FOX 13) - The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay confirmed at least four tornadoes in the Bay Area Friday.
Damage and power outages were widespread after the line of storms moved inland from the gulf coast.
Minutes after a tornado warning was issued for Pinellas County the winds picked up hard and fast.
The national weather service confirmed a tornado touched down in Seminole. Thankfully, only one report of a minor injury in Pinellas County from the storms there.
The aftermath near 91st Street North and 76th Avenue North is incredible; tree branches snapped off, blocking roadways and damaging property, fences are ripped apart, and many homes are without power.
In Pasco County, a family is thankful Friday night that a falling tree missed their sleeping 2-month-old, although it caused extensive damage to their home.
Father Mina Sidaros said his baby was sleeping when the tree crashed down, actually hitting the crib.
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In Hernando County, a tornado touched down in Spring Hill, destroying the screen enclosure covering the Marrone Family’s pool; just one instance of widespread damage in the area.
“The next thing you know the rain started a little bit and then the wind picked up and we both looked up and we have a light underneath our front door and was spinning around in circles and we got up granddaughter grandson and started heading for the bedroom,” Charlie Marrone remembered.
But by the time they got to the bedroom, the storm was over.
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Savannah Smiley recorded video of the tornado tearing across a busy intersection, narrowly missing a vehicle.
It lasted just seconds, but the damage was extensive.
WATCH: Tornado crosses intersection in Spring Hill
Once the storms crossed over the Tampa Bay, a shopping plaza in the Northdale area, at Dale Mabry and Northdale Boulevard, suffered damage from high winds and downed trees. Northbound Dale Mabry was closed due to power lines in the roadway and the Winn-Dixie there was roped off where part of the wall had fallen.
In Tampa, crews responded to multiple reports of downed trees and power lines. A small fire was reported at N 34th St. and E Clark St., in Tampa, from a blown transformer. Another broke out at 10th and Sligh from a tree falling on power lines.
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Over 45,000 TECO customers were without power as of 4:30 p.m., but that number had been cut down to about 12,000 by 9 p.m.
Around 7,000 Duke Energy customers were reported without power around the same time.
The Red Cross is offering assistance for anyone impacted by damage from Friday’s storms.
A shelter has been set up in St. Petersburg, at Christ Lutheran Church, located at 3451 30th Avenue North.
The shelter will be open throughout the weekend.