A tornado rated EF-0 by the National Weather Service (NWS) passed through Fort Lauderdale on Saturday evening, damaging boats, homes and power lines.
The NWS warned of radar rotation suggestive of tornado activity, issuing an alert at 5:46 p.m. Signs of the tornado became apparent along Southeast 12th Street, where large branches were down in front of a home.
It touched down near the Lauderdale Yacht Club at 5:47 p.m. before crossing the Intracoastal waterway into Las Olas Isles. The tornado’s estimated wind speed was 70 to 80 mph with a length of 1.5 miles, NWS stated in its report.
EF-0 tornadoes are considered weak, with winds of 65 to 85 mph.
The twister, which could be seen ripping through the area in multiple videos, had traveled northeast through portions of Rio Vista Isles, across the New River and then across several streets just south of Sunset Lake before lifting in the vicinity of East Las Olas Boulevard.
Several Fort Lauderdale residents are dealing with minor damage to homes, such as roofs and power lines, while others were left unaffected. No injuries were reported.
In a statement released by Mayor Dean J. Trantalis, FPL crews are working to restore power to any affected areas.
“Our city crews are actively clearing streets to ensure your safety,” he added. “We will also schedule bulk pickup for debris removal this Monday and Tuesday.”