Power Outage in Tavares, FL

Lake County Emergency Management reported numerous trees were knocked down and several homes sustained wind damage in the city of Tavares due to straight-line winds. Two apartment complexes along East Alfred Street suffered roof damage. There were several trees knocked down on Anderson Road and near the intersection of Druid Place and Laurel Way, with some power lines being knocked down. A home in the Lake Dora Manor subdivision sustained minor roof damage.

Based on numerous videos, pictures, and reports received from Lake County Emergency Management, Lake County Sheriff's Office, local broadcast media, trained spotters and the public, a waterspout on Lake Dora came onshore in Tavares as a brief tornado before quickly dissipating. The waterspout formed on Lake Dora at approximately 1741 LST. The waterspout came onshore on the north side of the lake near the 32900th block of Lakeshore Drive in Tavares at approximately 1742 LST, as a weakening tornado. The tornado knocked down a power pole and transformer on Lakeshore Drive before dissipating north of the road. Peak winds are estimated between 60-65 mph. No other damages or injuries occurred.

Based on photographs and videos received from the public, local media, and emergency management, the NWS Melbourne determined a high-end EF-0 tornado, with winds of 80-85 mph, occurred in Tavares. The damage showed a discontinuous tornado track moving to the southwest along a nearly one mile path near U.S. Highway 441. The tornado lasted approximately 5 minutes. The most significant damage occurred to a warehouse/mobile unit located behind a Winn Dixie near the 450th block of East Burleigh Boulevard in Tavares. This structure was destroyed, and a piece of sheet metal was lofted onto a nearby power pole. Also, the Fish Camp Lake Restaurant located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 441 and North Lakeshore Boulevard sustained moderate roof damage. The exterior kitchen exhaust fan was ripped off the roof and thrown onto a nearby street. Adjacent to the restaurant at the Lake Tire & Auto Store, several wood fences were knocked over and a small tree was uprooted, falling onto a trailer. Additional reports of very minor damage occurred along US Highway 441, such as small tree limbs and branches knocked off trees, and small fences knocked over. A member of the public relayed a video from a boat on Lake Eustis showing the tornado as it was impacting the area near the Fish Camp Lake Restaurant. DI8, DOD2, EXP-LB; DI3, DOD4, EXP-LB.