Severe weather blamed for two Florida deaths

The National Weather Service reported a tornado with an estimated width of 300 yards that caused damage in Manatee County had peak winds of 127 mph and was on the ground for 9.2 miles.

At least two people are dead near Sarasota after tornadoes and severe thunderstorms crossed central and South Florida in the early morning hours of Sunday.

A man and a woman were killed after powerful winds destroyed a mobile home in Duette, Manatee County, BayNews9 reported.

Sarasota Fire Rescue reported multiple rescues, and the county Emergency Operations Center said preliminary damage assessments indicated 45 properties suffered a total of more than $3 million in damage.

Several buildings in a condo complex on Siesta Key were damaged, he said.

At least four tornadoes touched down. Their son, Steven Wilson Jr., managed to pull himself out of the rubble and free his four children and as of yesterday afternoon were being treated in the hospital for non life-threatening injuries.

DUETTE: A tornado leveled a mobile home, killing 58-year-old Steven Wilson.

According to Sarasota County Public Information Officer Drew Winchester, there was “significant damage to homes” but no reports of major injuries.

Around 17,000 customers were without power at the storm’s peak, with Florida Light and Power planning to have most outages restored by 6 p.m. Sunday.

Historical data suggests there is a 60 percent increase in the number of tornadoes that hit Florida from this type of weather phenomenon. One of the children was also seriously injured.

“We’ll see a more active weather pattern into February and early March”, said 10Weather WTSP meteorologist Ashley Batey. Trees were uprooted, minor flooding was reported and parking structures were mangled in the city.

Cleanup efforts started by about 10 a.m.in the area.