High winds injure one, damage two dozen homes in Bradenton. More storms could hit Sunday
One person was injured after strong winds from a thunderstorm damaged about 20 homes off El Conquistador Parkway in southern Manatee County, according to Manatee County Public Safety. Also, three mobile homes were damaged by a storm that hit the Oneco area.
As more storms are expected to pass through the region, Manatee, Sarasota and other parts of Tampa Bay are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 4 p.m. Sunday.
Photos and videos showed several homes that had been damaged by what were described as straight line winds — not a tornado — near IMG Academy at about 5:45 p.m. Saturday. Citing information from Manatee County Public Safety, the National Weather Service said five homes suffered major damage to their roofs. The storm also damaged windows, awnings, screened enclosures and trees.
One person suffered minor injuries, according to the Weather Service.
In Oneco, Manatee officials reported that heavy winds damaged the roofs of three mobile homes at about 5:45 p.m.. The damage was described as “minor,” according to the Weather Service.
The storms were two of several that hit the region on Saturday afternoon. At times, parts of Manatee, Sarasota and other counties in the region were under a severe thunderstorm warning.
The Weather Service said more storms, some of them severe, could hit the Bradenton area after 11 a.m. Sunday, with up to 2 inches of rain possible. Southerly winds could hit 20 mph before becoming northwesterly in the afternoon. The chance of rain was 90%, according to the Weather Service.
The forecast high temperature is 79.
“Thunderstorms that develop will be capable of producing strong gusty winds, locally heavy rains and flooding, large hail, and isolated tornadoes or waterspouts,” the Weather Service said.
Sunday evening, the chance of rain drops to 60% with showers and possible thunderstorms possible between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m, the Weather Service said.
This story was originally published April 10, 2021 at 9:27 PM.