JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The damage from severe storms that passed through Jacksonville’s Southside on Saturday were, in part, produced by an EF-1 tornado.
The tornado touched down just south of River Oaks Park around 5:52 p.m, then weakened and dissipated around 5:58 p.m.
The National Weather Service storm survey, conducted on Sunday, concluded that damage sustained in the San Marco area was caused by a weak tornado producing maximum winds of 104 mph.
Radar imagery indicates a brief tight rotation developed on the north end of a developing downburst.
The tornado developed on the eastern shore of the St. Johns River and moved east southeast for 3.45 miles through the Southside area.
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The tornado had a width of 300 yards.
There was substatntial roof damage to businesses near Philips Highway. Trailers in the Pine Oaks Mobile Home Park were damaged as well.
There were no reports of injuries. The tornado lasted 5 or 6 minutes.
Viewer video sent in to Action News reportedly shows the weak tornado from University Boulevard and Interstate 95 looking north.
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- Watch: Home video of confirmed tornado
- Related Link: NWS Storm Survey for Southside Jacksonville
Damage outside the path of the tornado was due to straight line winds of 70-80 mph.
Numerous large trees were uprooted. JEA reported peak power outages of 18,000 customers after the storm.
The CBS47/FOX30 Action News First Alert Weather Center gave you the "First Alert" on impending storms beginning with Erin Clanahan early Saturday morning. All four First Alert meteorologists -- Mike Buresh, Arielle Nixon, Garrett Bedenbaugh, and Erin Clanahan --delivered minute-by-minute and street-by-street coverage Saturday afternoon and evening.
Get the latest First Alert Forecast here.
According to Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh, tornados are not rare, but it is not common to have tornadoes in Duval County, especially in the metro area.
The last tornado was an EF-1 in Arington on Aug. 1, 2013. Before that there was an EF-1 in Mayport on June 6, 2013, a "spin-off" from tropical storm "Andrea". There was an EF-0 in Mayport on July 14, 2007 and an EF-2 on Aug. 13, 2004 in Northwest Jacksonville, which was a spawned by tropical storm "Bonnie".
#FirstAlertWX Indications of very strong winds just S & E of D'town mvng into Arlington pic.twitter.com/ANED9GpkfC
— Mike Buresh (@MikeFirstAlert) April 25, 2015
#FirstAlertWX Poss hail core w/strong winds over d'town Jax-headed for Arllington & beaches mvng E/SE near 50 mph! pic.twitter.com/lSu86e3A62
— Mike Buresh (@MikeFirstAlert) April 25, 2015
Nasty Storm mvng E/SE across Duval Co....possible damaging winds & hail, extremely hvy rain/lgtng-look out beaches pic.twitter.com/vuSThYkr44
— Mike Buresh (@MikeFirstAlert) April 25, 2015
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