Shocking Florida Tornado Tears Through Homes: Watch Jaw-Dropping Footage & Live Updates

Residents across Florida are assessing damage after a pair of separate May twisters reminded the Sunshine State that tornado season is far from over. The most recent touchdown happened Thursday evening, May 29, when an EF-0 tornado briefly carved a 1.6-mile path through St. Johns County. National Weather Service survey teams clocked peak winds at 85 mph, snapping large tree limbs in the Cimarrone Golf Club neighborhood, scattering debris across State Road 9B and collapsing an awning at The Loop restaurant in Nocatee. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but traffic cameras captured the funnel as it crossed a busy intersection, underscoring how quickly conditions deteriorated. Just weeks earlier, on May 10, a stronger EF-1 tornado injured one person and damaged at least 18 structures in rural Holmes County, part of a wider outbreak that spawned three EF-1 twisters across Florida’s Panhandle. Survey crews documented winds near 100 mph and a damage path littered with mangled metal roofs and uprooted pines. Drone footage shared on social media shows barns shredded and power lines toppled, a stark reminder that Florida’s relatively flat terrain can’t always deflect severe storms racing in from the Gulf. Why Florida is seeing more spring tornadoes • Warm Gulf moisture colliding with lingering cold fronts creates highly sheared, unstable atmospheres during late spring. • A strong El Niño winter left residual jet-stream energy parked over the Southeast, enhancing updraft rotation in thunderstorms. • Population growth is pushing new subdivisions into previously rural counties, increasing both exposure and the number of eyewitness videos that go viral within minutes. What’s next in the forecast Meteorologists warn that another potent disturbance could sweep across North Florida early next week. While widespread severe weather isn’t guaranteed, daytime heating and high dew points will again raise the risk of isolated tornadoes, especially along the I-10 corridor and up through Jacksonville’s southern suburbs. Safety checklist before the next Florida tornado threat 1. Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on every smartphone in the household. 2. Identify a small, windowless interior room or sturdy on-site shelter. Manufactured-home residents should pre-plan an alternate safe spot. 3. Assemble a “rapid-go” kit with sturdy shoes, a flashlight, portable power bank, and copies of critical documents. 4. Keep vehicles fueled; downed trees often block roads for hours after a tornado. 5. Document property—video your home’s exterior and interior now to simplify insurance claims later. Economic impact Early estimates from local emergency managers put combined damage from the St. Johns and Holmes County tornadoes near $12 million. Agricultural losses, particularly snapped longleaf pines slated for timber harvest, account for roughly a quarter of that figure. Insurance adjusters caution that hidden roof damage from wind-borne debris can double repair costs in the months ahead. Community resilience Volunteer crews from neighboring counties and faith-based groups have already begun chainsaw operations and tarp deployments. St. Johns County officials set up a debris drop-off site at Mills Field, while Holmes County has opened a disaster relief fund to help uninsured residents rebuild. Mental-health counselors will be available at both county libraries this weekend. Bottom line Florida may be famous for hurricanes, but quick-hitting tornadoes pose a growing warm-season danger. With the heart of severe-weather season extending into June, staying alert and having a plan can mean the difference between a close call and catastrophe.