Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Florida, April 5, 1993

A squall line which had developed over the Gulf of Mexico on April 4th moved rapidly eastward across the southern half of the Florida Peninsula during the pre-dawn hours of Monday, April 5th. At least 10 tornadoes affected 8 different counties during the 4-hour period it took for the squall line to cross the peninsula. High thunderstorm winds produced widespread damage resulting in many residences and businesses being damaged, outbuildings and screen enclosures being destroyed, automobiles and boats being damaged or destroyed, and downed power lines and trees. Fortunately, no one was killed and only 5 injuries were reported.

A small tornado which began as a waterspout in the Gulf of Mexico moved on shore at Manasota Beach causing minor roof and window damage to several homes.

A brief touchdown of a tornado damaged three mobile homes' roofs and porches. Tore off a porch roof of a residence and threw it across the street into a parked car. Several other homes received minor damage, along with outbuildings being damaged or destroyed. Two screen enclosures were destroyed. Several trees were uprooted.

Four houses received minor damage from a brief tornado touchdown. Roofs were damaged, windows broken, screening damaged, a truck toper damaged, and trees were mangled or uprooted.

A tornado moved through a residential area of Port Charlotte and moved rapidly northeastward causing a 2-mile path of destruction. In all, 69 houses were damaged, 17 of which were severely damaged and one was destroyed. A male resident of this house was cut on the forearm and received a hairline fracture of his foot as the roof was completely lifted off the structure. Promenades Mall was then hit, severely damaging a Bryons department store which will be closed for 5 months for repairs, a supermarket, a medical center, a motel and several other small businesses. Many trees were uprooted, fences damaged, screen enclosures and outbuildings were destroyed. A wind gust of 61 mph was observed at Punta Gorda Airport at 0147 EST. Damage was estimated at $1 million by the emergency manager.

Fifty homes near the Cape Coral Yacht Club received minor damage from high winds. Most of the damage was to screen enclosures, patio furniture, downed trees and power lines.

High winds caved in a hangar door at Page Field (FMY) damaging an EMS helicopter. Several nearby residences received minor wind damage.

The metal roof of a boat dry storage building was blown off at Fort Myers Beach Marina causing an estimated $750,000 damage to the building and 17 boats inside or nearby the building. One male sleeping onboard a boat received minor injuries. Several mobile homes east of the marina received roof, carport, and screened porch damage. The Coast Guard station nearby observed a gust to 59 mph at 0146 EST.

Two mobile homes in Caribbean Mobile Home Park received minor damage from a small tornado. Screening around a pool was destroyed, a garage door buckled, and several trees were mangled or uprooted. Damage estimate was $25,000.

A wind gust of 58 mph was observed at Weather Service Office, Key West as a line of thunderstorms passed the station.

Two mobile homes received roof, carport, and outbuilding damage from a brief touchdown of a small tornado.

A small tornado moved through the Mobile Home Village at Charlie Creek on SR 64 near Avon Park damaging 14 mobile homes.

An old wood frame house, under reconstruction following Hurricane Andrew and termite damage, was totally destroyed by thunderstorm winds.

Power lines were downed by high thunderstorm winds in the western sections of Hendry County.

A mobile home was moved from its foundation by high winds resulting in minor damage.

A tornado touched down briefly northeast of Okeechobee City which caused minor structural damage to one residence and uprooted trees. A roof was ripped off a mobile home and the contents were sucked out through the roof.

A small tornado briefly touched down at the intersection of Dixie Highway and Indian Street in Stuart damaging the roof of a U-Haul rental building, moving a U-Haul trailer 200 yards, and blew around signs and garbage cans.

International AirportHigh winds moved a USAir B-737 that was parked at the boarding gate at Palm Beach International Airport. A 55 mph gust was measured at 0425 EST at the airport.

High winds blew over a temporary office trailer used by an insurance company in settling Hurricane Andrew claims.

High winds overturned a moving tractor trailer on Interstate 95, slightly injuring the driver, and closing the southbound lanes for 2.5 hours.

High winds caused roof damage, broken windows, uprooted trees and downed power lines in the eastern sections of Plantation near SR 7, east of Fort Lauderdale Golf and Country Club.

High winds caused roof damage, broken windows, uprooted trees and downed power lines in the eastern sections of Plantation near SR 7, east of Fort Lauderdale Golf and Country Club.

A small tornado hop-scotched along a 3-mile path in Fort Lauderdale causing extensive roof damage and broken windows to approximately 8 homes and an apartment complex. Several cars were damaged or destroyed by flying debris or falling trees. About one-third of the surface of the roof of a Broward County Public Library was ripped off. Windows in a nearby shopping center were blown out. Two minor injuries from flying glass were reported.