Possible waterspout destroys old lifeguard stand and changing room on Coquina Beach
A possible waterspout that came on or near shore on Coquina Beach during a severe thunderstorm toppled the top of retired lifeguard stand.
The lifeguard stand on Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island had already been scheduled to be demolished on Monday, which went on as scheduled.
The waterspout was officially reported to the National Weather Service Tampa Bay office at 6:15 p.m. Sunday, four minutes after a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the storm that produced the waterspout, according to John McMichael, a senior meteorologist at NWS.
“It was whiteout conditions,” Marine Rescue chief Joe Westerman said of the moments just before. “We had already closed the beach for lightning. It just got violently windy suddenly and then once it cleared, the damage was done.”
Marine rescue reported the waterspout to emergency management, which in turn reported it to the Weather Service.
There were no injuries reported.
The demolition of the lifeguard stand went on as scheduled on Monday morning. The waterspout also destroyed a nearby changing room.
The NWS has not confirmed that there was a waterspout or tornado, according to McMichael,
