National Weather Service confirms tornado touched down in north Broward

Damage spotted near Broward College in Coconut Creek

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – A tornado touched down in Coconut Creek Wednesday morning, causing cars to overturn in a parking lot.

National Weather Service meteorologists confirmed the tornado after performing a storm survey.  The tornado has been classified as an EF-1, with maximum winds between 90-100 mph.

Pablo Santos of the National Weather Service said the tornado touched down at least three times and was estimated to be 100-feet in width.

Pictures sent to Local 10 News showed overturned vehicles and one car sitting on top of another.  

Another tornado was reportedly sighted in west Broward County near Weston at about 11:20 a.m.

Incidents from the first possible tornado included a van that was overturned in Margate. No one other than the driver was in the vehicle and he was not injured.

A tornado warning had just been issued for the area moments before the possible strike near Broward College's North Campus.

"We heard a big bang and someone screaming, and we couldn't see out the window and we were told to take shelter in a closet and get under tables," an employee at the college, Kennedy Almy said.

"I see this wind blow out of nowhere. It is really raining hard and this garbage can lifts up and I hear an alarm," student Jallynette Melendez said.

All classes have been canceled through 5 p.m. A college representative said evening classes held after 5 p.m. are expected to resume as scheduled.

Coconut Creek police said that no injuries have been reported.

Other pictures show roof damage at an apartment complex at 1604 Abaco Drive in Coconut Creek.

A tractor-trailer overturned at a Whole Foods warehouse in Pompano Beach and was speared by a parking post. Luiz Ribeio said he was in his car in the parking lot when he saw the tornado knock over the tractor-trailer. He said it sounded like a train.

The severe weather also caused a collision on Florida's Turnpike, where a vehicle traveling in the southbound lanes was swept up by the wind and dropped in the northbound lanes near Sample Road.

A Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport spokesman said that no flights have been affected by the weather.

Florida Power & Light said more than 500 customers were without electricity.

Witnesses reported that trees and power lines were down.


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.