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'Strong' tornado triggered by Hurricane Milton injures seven people in Palm Beach County: NWS survey
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'Strong' tornado triggered by Hurricane Milton injures seven people in Palm Beach County: NWS survey

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla — The National Weather Service released a survey Friday showing that a tornado related to Hurricane Milton injured seven people and caused “significant” structural damage in Palm Beach County in 30 minutes on Wednesday.

According to the survey, the tornado began at 4:51 p.m. in Wellington, where it destroyed a double-wide mobile home on Deer Path Lane in the Rustic Ranches section of Wellington. It moved across the communities of Lakefield West, Meadowwood and Binks Forest, damaging homes and trees.

“The scariest thing I’ve ever experienced,” Wellington resident Kristen Boyd told Local 10 News.

The tornado crossed Southern Boulevard, Loxahatchee Groves and The Acreage, causing further damage to homes, trees and outbuildings before strengthening as it approached Northlake Boulevard at the north end of The Acreage.

According to the survey, the tornado's “most significant damage” occurred in the Avenir community of Palm Beach Gardens, where it shattered impact-resistant windows, collapsed a large portion of the Publix supermarket roof and lifted and moved vehicles at least 100 feet.

“All the roof tiles were flying like bullets,” Bobby Jagoo, who lives near Palm Beach Gardens, told Local 10 News.

The tornado then moved very close to the North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport, crossed the Bee Line Highway and entered Jupiter Farms, damaging trees, outbuildings and utility poles. It “probably” continued into Martin County.

With estimated peak wind speeds of 140 miles per hour, the tornado's path length was 21 miles and its width was 300 yards. NWS meteorologists classified some of the tornado damage based on wind estimates as severe EF-3 on a scale of five, meaning severe.

The Palm Beach County Department of Emergency Management, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department assisted the NWS with the survey.

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