National Weather Service Confirms 3 Tornadoes Spawned by Weekend Storms

MOBILE, Ala. ( WALA The National Weather Service has verified three EF1 tornadoes along with a major damaging wind occurrence resulting from a series of intense thunderstorms that struck the Gulf Coast region early Saturday morning, May 10.

Dauphin Island: 90 MPH Winds, But No Tornado

On Monday, survey teams arrived at Dauphin Island to assess the extent of storm damage sustained from strong gusts that swept through during the wee hours of Saturday morning. Although initial reports suggested possible tornadic activity due to the observed devastation on the island, the National Weather Service has confirmed that the wreckage was actually triggered by severe straight-line winds rather than a tornado.

The winds escalated to 90 miles per hour, causing a miniature cellular tower to collapse, shattering windows, and harming the entrance at Capt'n Snapper's eatery. Additionally, multiple vessels were dislodged from their positions within the harbor and propelled into the sea. Scattered tree branches littered the area, along with instances of fully uprooted or broken trees. The region affected by this destruction spanned roughly three-quarters of a mile.

No injuries were reported.

Warrington Tornado – Escambia County, FL

A tornado classified as an EF1, boasting maximum gusts up to 97 miles per hour, descended upon the Beach Haven region close to Warrington, Florida, at approximately 6:15 AM on Saturday. This twister moved across slightly more than half a mile, causing tree breakage and structural harm along Rentz Avenue and Calhoun Avenue. A house experienced partial roof destruction, whereas adjacent buildings suffered from shattered glass panes and slight damages.

Pensacola Beach Tornado – Escambia County, Florida

At 6:21 AM, yet another tornado struck Pensacola Beach. Starting as a waterspout, this EF1 tornado came ashore east of the pier and wreaked havoc on buildings near the Casino Beach Boardwalk. It caused significant damage such as knocking over signs, stripping away part of a rooftop from an adjacent building, and hurling a barbecue grill about 30 yards away. Winds reached their peak at around 100 miles per hour.

Destin Tornado – Okaloosa County, Florida

Around 9:05 AM, the third verified tornado struck Destin, Florida. Originating near Henderson Beach State Park and moving northward, this EF1 twister passed through a bustling commercial district before reaching a residential area. The storm caused extensive destruction, including fallen streetlights and displaced trees within multiple shopping center car parks. Further harm was noted at the Kelly Plantation golf course. It’s thought that after landfall, the tornado transformed into a waterspout above Choctawhatchee Bay.

There have been no reports of deaths or injuries resulting from any of the storms. The NWS indicates that further damage evaluations might be conducted utilizing satellite images over the next few days, and modifications to these storm paths and rankings could still occur.