Home / Disasters and Accidents / SW Florida Hit by Fierce Storms, Possible Tornado
SW Florida Hit by Fierce Storms, Possible Tornado
11 Jul
Summary
- Strong thunderstorms brought high winds and heavy rain.
- An unconfirmed tornado touched down near Naples.
- Thousands experienced power outages due to the storms.
Southwest Florida experienced intense thunderstorms and lightning on Friday afternoon, with reports of an unconfirmed tornado near Naples. The National Weather Service had not confirmed the tornado as of Friday evening, though radar detected potential circulation and resident accounts described extreme conditions. Winds reached up to 63 mph, with the Weather Service confirming 60-70 mph gusts, causing tree damage and minor roof damage in some areas.
Thousands were left without power across Lee and Collier counties as a result of the severe weather. Just before the storms hit, Page Field in Fort Myers recorded a high temperature of 96 degrees, potentially tying a daily record. Looking toward Saturday, the forecast for Southwest Florida indicates sunny skies with a possibility of morning showers and thunderstorms, followed by partly sunny conditions with afternoon storm chances.
