TAMPA, Fla. -- Severe weather battered the Tampa Bay area Thursday night and into early Friday morning, downing trees and knocking out power for thousands of Duke Energy customers in our area.
Tornado warnings came and went for Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties before they expired a little before midnight.
FRIDAY, February 7
10 a.m. — The National Weather Service is investigating reports of a tornado between Seminole and Pinellas Park around 10: 40 p.m. They shared this radar data that shows there might have been a brief one. They are on the groud working to determine if a tornado did occur.
Radar data from 1040 PM EST Thursday evening at the time of a possible brief tornado between Seminole & Pinellas Park in #Pinellas Cnty. The purple box is the tornado warning issued at 1030 PM. An on-scene #NWS survey crew will determine if a tornado occurred later today. #flwx pic.twitter.com/nOJ9ChGnu0
— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) February 7, 2020
8:45 a.m. — Five storm-related deaths have been confirmed by inclement weather throughout the southern US in Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee.
8 a.m. — Reports of damage in Pinellas County include an uprooted tree and a trampoline blown into a different neighborhood.
In Pinellas Park at Palm Grove Mobile Home Park officials say several trailers have wind damage.
"It started off as a breeze a small breeze…then before we know it, it just started lifting everything up off the ground and lifting it straight up,” said resident Thomas Welch.
The wind blew one man’s roof off of his mobile home, he’s lived there for 18 years.
“You know this minuscule, a roof.. in comparison to those who lose everything,” said resident Joseph Sheehan.
7 a.m. — Cleanup is underway across the Tampa Bay area after severe weather knocked down trees, power lines and ripped off at least one roof. No serious injuries have been reported.
5:30 a.m. — Duke Energy is still reporting power outages, with more than 1,000 reported in Citrus and Pinellas counties. Pasco, Polk and Highlands also reporting some outages. TECO is reporting around 1,200 customers without power.
POWER OUTAGES:
5 a.m. — Skies are clear after severe weather, but it's still windy with an advisory in place until 7 a.m.
1:15 a.m. - The Sunshine Skyway Bridge reopens hours after shutting down due to severe weather.
1 a.m. - More than 2,800 Pinellas County Duke Energy customers are without power, more than 2,300 customers are left in the dark in Pasco County and more than 2,500 customers are waiting for power to turn back on in Citrus County, according to Duke Energy's outage summary.
12:30 a.m. - I-275 north has reopened after a crane collapsed on the road.
12:05 a.m. - Severe weather knocked down a billboard off 66th Street North in Pinellas Park.
Significant damage off 66th street in Pinellas Park @anchorwendyryan @abcactionnews billboard snapped off base. pic.twitter.com/iUafyzGe36
— Michael Paluska (@MichaelPaluska) February 7, 2020
THURSDAY, February 6
11:45 p.m. - The severe weather has knocked out power for more than 4,600 Duke Energy customers in Pinellas County, more than 2,500 customers are waiting for power to be restored in Citrus County and more than 1,400 customers were left in the dark in Pasco County.
11:30 p.m. - Crane collapses on I-275, causing major backups in the northbound lanes.
10:50 p.m. - Tornado Warnings have been issued for Hillsborough and Pinellas County until 11:45 p.m.
10:35 p.m. - Tornado Warning has been issued for Pinellas County.
5 p.m. - The Florida State Fair closes early due to the severe weather threats.
3:15 p.m. - High winds prompted the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to shut down on both directions.
3 p.m. - Firefighters rescue an elderly woman and a dog after a large oak tree smashes into a home in the 18300th block of U.S. 41 in Shady Hills area.
RELATED: Events canceled, roads closed due to high winds and possible severe weather
Story developing, stay with ABC Action News for the latest severe weather coverage.
