Small Tornado Touches Down Near Dania Beach Marina
FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A line of storms which moved through central Broward early Tuesday afternoon sent one man to the hospital and tossed some boats around in a Dania Beach marina.
A preliminary report from the National Weather Service confirms that a weak tornado touched down along State Road 84 northwest of the I-95/I-595 junction near Marina Mile.
"The wind got so strong you could hardly see out the windows, but you could see stuff flying around. When we saw boats flying we knew this was no ordinary storm," said Bruce Wade the owner of Power Catamarans.
A couple of small boats were overturned in the marina.
Surveillance cameras at the marina captured the whipping winds and a white flash from the appearance of cloud and spray associated with the tornado.
Wade estimates the tornado did $8,000 to $10,000 in damage.
Next door at RPM Diesel Engine Company, workers said they felt the force of the weak tornado.
"I could feel the wind coming through the building," said salesman Bryon MacDonald.
MacDonald said he rushed to the back of the building where a co-worker was starting to pull down the garage door.
"As fast as it started, it ended in two minutes," he said.
No injuries were reported.
In Lauderhill, a contractor with Florida Rigging and Crane working with FPL was struck by lighting, according to Florida Power and Light spokesman Dave MCDermit.
The crane operator was in the 3600 block of NW 4th Street in Lauderhill assisting FPL workers install new poles to strengthen the main power line when his crane was struck.
The 42-year man was taken to Broward Health Medical Center with minor burns.
