NWS: Tornado confirmed in Brevard County

No injuries reported during Rockledge storm

ROCKLEDGE, Fla. – The National Weather Service on Saturday confirmed that a tornado touched down in Brevard County, and at least two homes were damaged.

The National Weather Service in Melbourne issued a tornado warning at 6:52 p.m. Friday for an area that included Merritt Island and Rockledge.

"It was an EF-0 and only lasted a few minutes, but it did cause some damage," News 6 meteorologist Madeline Evans said.

Margie Miles lives on Buckingham Court in Rockledge, where one of the homes was damaged.

"I looked out the window and I saw strong winds blowing things all over the yard," she said. "Before I could close the curtain, the roof of the carport went up in the air."

Miles said she ran down the hallway to escape the damage.

"It frightened me so much. I just did a quick dash to the bathroom," she said. "On my way to the bathroom, I could see sunlight coming in my family room area where the roof was coming off and being destroyed."

Brevard County communications director Don Walker said the storm caused minor damage to a fire station roof in Rockledge.

No injuries were reported.

News 6 viewer Jeanne Felix Pinsi sent a picture from the southern part of Brevard County showing what appeared to be a funnel cloud in the distance.

Another viewer said he saw leaves and debris falling from the sky from his home on Eyster Boulevard in Rockledge.

Another video recorded from McClarty Stadium in Rockledge showed dark clouds swirling in the sky above.

For the rest of Central Florida, it also was an active afternoon for storms, most of which cleared out of the area after sunset.

An upper level will push over Florida by Saturday, dragging in a plume of dry air.

The dry air will inhibit the chance of rain and storms by the afternoon. Rain coverage remains minimal at 20 percent.

News 6 viewer Jeanne Felix Pinsi sent this photo of an apparent funnel cloud in South Brevard County during a tornado warning in the area.

The high in Orlando will reach 96, with the "feels like" temperature in the triple digits.

"Most of us will stay completely dry, with only light to moderate spotty showers," Evans said.

Overnight, the low will be in the upper 70s under a partly cloudy sky.

For Sunday, it is more of the same: a high of 93 and a 30 percent coverage of rain. 

Tracking the tropics

Tropical Storm Harvey is well to our south, and the forecast cone has it staying completely away from Florida.

"There are two waves in the Atlantic that have actually been weakening," Evans said.

The first wave has a 40 percent chance of development. The behind it only has a 20 percent chance.

"We'll keep watching them, though," Evans said.

[WEATHER: Extended forecast | Radar | Warnings | Pinpoint Weather Zones]
[DOWNLOAD: Pinpoint, Hurricane apps | SHARE: Weather pictures]

Watch News 6 and stay with ClickOrlando.com for more on this story.


About the Authors:

Candace Campos joined the News 6 weather team in 2015.

Erik Sandoval joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2013 and became an Investigator in 2020. During his time at News 6, Erik has covered several major stories, including the 2016 Presidential campaign. He was also one of the first reporters live on the air at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.