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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
133 PM EST Thu Dec 17 2020


...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 12/16/2020 TORNADO EVENT... 

.Overview...Low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico moved into
the Florida Pan Handle Wednesday with a trailing cold
front moving through West Central Florida in the afternoon.
A surge of moisture ahead of the front created a brief
opportunity for strong and locally severe storms. The 
strongest thunderstorm cell tracked from central Pinellas
County to north of Plant City then into north Lakeland, 
dropping a tornado sporadically along its path.  

...Pinellas County Tornado...

Rating:                 EF2
Estimated Peak Wind:    125 mph
Path Length /statute/:  13.1284 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   300 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/16/2020
Start Time:             03:49 PM EST
Start Location:         2 NE Seminole / Pinellas County / FL
Start Lat/Lon:          27.8637 / -82.7524

End Date:               12/16/2020
End Time:               04:11 PM EST
End Location:           3 SSW Tampa International Airport /  / FL
End Lat/Lon:            27.9345 / -82.5532

Survey Summary:
A thunderstorm over the Gulf of Mexico was rotating and weakened
as it moved onshore.  The storm spun up again quickly and dropped
a violent tornado in parts of the Bayou Club, then crossed Belcher
road and hit an industrial park where the greatest damage was
observed. Buildings had uplift and removal of roof decking, outer
walls collapsed. Two buildings were destroyed and five had major
damage. Several buildings in a boat storage facility had major 
damage and large 2-ton boats where thrown about.  The damage
became must more spotty as it approached U.S. Highway 19. 
Insulation debris collected on a fence near the Saint Pete/
Clearwater International Airport. Video on social media showed
the tornado crossing the Howard Franklin Bridge (Interstate 275)
with debris and a light pole dropping in front of the observer. 

...Lakeland Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    110 mph
Path Length /statute/:  12.9467 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   250 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             12/16/2020
Start Time:             04:53 PM EST
Start Location:         4 N Plant City / Hillsborough County / FL
Start Lat/Lon:          28.061 / -82.1662

End Date:               12/16/2020
End Time:               05:15 PM EST
End Location:           Gibsonia / Polk County / FL
End Lat/Lon:            28.1203 / -81.965

Survey Summary:
The rotation from the tornado was elevated at the tree top level
or higher for most of its path. The most significant damage was
to a home in North Lakeland just north of Lake Gibson on Gibson
Shores Drive. Video on social media showed a wedge tornado north
of Plant City.  Numerous trees were downed in this area in 
addition to two small barns that were destroyed. 


EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

$$
Noah