Damage reported across Tampa Bay area after storms move across Florida
SPRING HILL, Fla. - As a line of severe storms swept through central Florida on Thursday, a Hernando County gas station had part of its roof ripped off. Some St. Petersburg residents dealt with huge trees toppling over in their yards.
An EF1 tornado did briefly touch down in Pinellas County along 7th Avenue Thursday, bringing in 100 mile per hour winds, Chief Meteorologist Paul Dellegatto said.
In Lutz, fences were scattered across yards and screen porches were torn off homes.
Utility workers were working to clean up power lines downed in Brooksville. The Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative's outage map website was not operable after the storms.
MORE: Thursday forecast brings threat for severe weather across Central Florida
St. Petersburg police were helping staff safely escort kids out of a nearby preschool after a tree fell on the building. No one was injured, SPPD said.
Photos from FOX 13 viewer Maureen Moreno show the 7-Eleven, located at 4710 Commercial Way in Spring Hill, with a large portion of the roof stripped away.
"This roof was just replaced from a previous storm and was ripped off again today," Moreno said.
In St. Pete, 9th Avenue North, from 54th - 57th St. N was closed when storms damaged a church and another building. Part of the road had since reopened.
Residents nearby saw large oak trees come dangerously close to falling on their homes. Others were not as lucky.
One family was surveying the damage to their roof after a large tree damaged parts of the structure.
At the All Children's Academy preschool, also on 9th Avenue N, police and St. Pete Fire Rescue were on the scene to assess the damage.
Aerial images from Lutz showed damage to backyards, with fences littered like matchsticks, swing sets thrown across yards, and screened lanai covers torn from homes.
No injuries had been reported as of 2 p.m. Thursday.
The storms are part of a cold front that is bringing heavy rain and to the Tampa Bay area as it moves across the state.
Thunderstorms were already developing along the Panhandle Wednesday evening after the front caused possible tornadoes and wind damage in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
A tornado watch was in effect through 4 p.m. Thursday for most of Central Florida, but has since ended.