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TAMPA BAY, FL -- Winds from a storm system wreaked havoc in parts of the Tampa Bay area Tuesday. The system spawned at least one tornado that touched down in the Wesley Chapel area.
Strong winds ripped roof shingles off homes, uprooted trees and forced the evacuation of school children from trailer classrooms in Pinellas and Pasco Counties and north Hillsborough County.
Heavy damage was reported in the Port Richey, New Port Richey, Holiday and Trinity areas as well. At least one home in Trinity was badly damaged.
Emergency officials reported power lines and trees down in the Port Richey and New Port Richey areas. Roofs were heavily damaged by high winds and trees that had toppled onto homes. "Everything just went dark and the power lines in the tree behind me went down," said Port Richey resident Joe Simmons.
In Wesley Chapel, the tornado, with winds of about 80 miles per hour, damaged homes and flipped an SUV upside down. 4X4 fence posts in one yard were snapped like toothpicks and blown away.
"It was howling and it was turning sideways. The rain was going around in a circle," said homeowner Richard Yoerg.
The storms also left thousands of Bay area residents without electricity.
School field trips in Hillsborough and Manatee counties were canceled.
There was no word of any injuries as the system continued to move across Florida.
