National Weather Service confirms recent Florida tornado

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Forecasters say they’ve confirmed a recent tornado in Florida, which caused little damage.

News outlets report the National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado touched down Friday morning in The Acreage, an unincorporated area near West Palm Beach. With winds of about 80 mph (130 kph), the tornado travelled a path about 50 yards (45 metres) wide and 1 and 1/2 miles (2 and 1/2kilometres) long.

Warning co-ordination meteorologist Robert Molleda told the Palm Beach Post that damage was mostly limited to trees and fences. He says a couple of horse stables lost rooftops, and a few trampolines were moved.

Thunderstorms are expected to persist over South Florida for several days as a slow-moving low pressure area in the Gulf of Mexico draws tropical moisture into the region.