JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Saturday afternoon's thunderstorms produced two brief EF-0 tornadoes in Bradford County. Damage reports include roof damage to a home, a destroyed barn, and downed trees and powerlines.
Here are the two preliminary reports from the National Weather Service of Jacksonville concerning the tornadoes:
1: Preliminary survey indicates EF0 Tornado touchdown 4 miles South Southwest of Sampson. Maximum winds: 85mph, Time: Between 1:30 and 1:45 pm, Path length: about a mile, Maximum width: 100 feet. Damage: trees and powerlines down.
2: Preliminary survey indicates EF0 Tornado touchdown 4 miles northwest of Starke. Maximum winds: 85 mph, Time: Between 1:30 and 1:45pm, Path length: about a mile, Maximum width: 100 feet. Damage: roof damaged on home, barn mostly destroyed, trees down.
Josh Crawford says it took just 30 seconds for severe weather to hit his mother's house in Graham Saturday afternoon, leaving part of the roof with significant damage and a barn in the back yard leveled.
"It came in, like I say, it started raining in a matter of just a few minutes. The wind got really fast really quick."
"She didn't hear, like, the train sound but she knew something because the house was shaking. So she knew some damage was going on for sure."
People all around Bradford County were experiencing something similar. We spotted damage to homes, downed power lines, destroyed trees, and excessive water from heavy rains.
Brian Johns with Bradford County Emergency Management said heavy rains in the last couple months have exceeded far above what's normal. He estimates the county got 3 more inches of rain Saturday.
If weather like this keeps up, there could be serious problems.
"We're actually under a local state of emergency. We've been under a local state of emergency for about three weeks." "Hampton Lake with the docks and the boathouses are already under water. Crosby Lake is reaching the flood zone and Sampson Lake also. SO those three lakes, it's not going to take much longer before the houses will be flooding."
As Bradford County neighbors work to repair the damage left behind, all they can think about is how thankful they are no one was hurt.
Josh Crawford summed it up, saying, "She's safe. Everybody's safe. This other stuff can be fixed, or replaced."
Weather Authority forecast, interactive radar
Once Saturday's rains passed, the chill will move in as the first taste of autumn arrives Monday morning.
Record low temperatures will be challenged as the old record for Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is a mere 62°. We are forecasting a low of 60°.
Ahead of that will be some much drier air, clearing our skies out for a beautiful day of football at the stadium! Sunny skies and temps in the mid-80s, with a nice breeze all add up to some great conditions.
A car was flattened by a tree near Argyle Forest Boulevard on the Westside.
