Tornadoes Florida

A ferocious late-winter storm billed as one of the worst of the century smashed the Eastern Seaboard on Saturday, spawning killer tornadoes in Florida, dumping record amounts of snow from the Deep South to New England and unleashing gale-force winds that forced thousands of coastal residents to evacuate their homes. At least 42 deaths were attributed to the "Blizzard of '93" and more than 3 million customers were without electricity at the peak of the storm Saturday afternoon.

A line of ferocious thunderstorms roared out of the Gulf and across central Florida in the predawn darkness Monday, spawning up to 10 tornadoes that killed 38 people in what authorities called the deadliest outbreak of twisters in the state's history. The El Nino-related storm, one of a series to pummel the state this winter, struck while most Floridians were in bed. Hundreds of homes, many of them trailer homes, were leveled. Cars were tossed into living rooms.

Tornadoes hopscotched across the Tampa Bay area for hours Saturday, killing four people at mobile home parks and smashing dozens of houses into splinters, authorities said. A two-day storm with winds gusting up to 90 m.p.h. also was blamed for sinking a freighter. All 15 crew members were rescued after the 255-foot Holstein went down with 2,000 tons of flour late Friday in the Gulf of Mexico.

A tornado that tore across a section of northern Florida destroyed several homes and damaged a hospital, college and church Monday. Several people suffered minor injuries. The twister touched down in the small community of Francis, then moved east to Palatka, cutting a 400-yard swath through the area but missing two elementary schools, a middle school and Palatka High School.

The National Weather Service said Sunday that it will convene an inquiry into why residents here got no warning before tornadoes ripped through their mobile homes Saturday. Three people were killed, 53 injured and more than 100 homes were destroyed. In the Jacksonville area, more tornadoes tore roofs off businesses and damaged nearby mobile homes and an apartment house Sunday, a Fire Department spokesman said.

Even before the weekend's 80 m.p.h. winds and near-freezing temperatures, the battered St. Ann Mission here looked like the center of a squatters' encampment. Since being routed from their homes by Hurricane Andrew almost seven months ago, some 160 people have been living in mobile homes, tents and makeshift plywood sheds that surround the old church, cooking on outdoor grills, lining up for showers and praying for a change of luck.

A tornado that tore across a section of northern Florida destroyed several homes and damaged a hospital, college and church Monday. Several people suffered minor injuries. The twister touched down in the small community of Francis, then moved east to Palatka, cutting a 400-yard swath through the area but missing two elementary schools, a middle school and Palatka High School.

A line of ferocious thunderstorms roared out of the Gulf and across central Florida in the predawn darkness Monday, spawning up to 10 tornadoes that killed 38 people in what authorities called the deadliest outbreak of twisters in the state's history. The El Nino-related storm, one of a series to pummel the state this winter, struck while most Floridians were in bed. Hundreds of homes, many of them trailer homes, were leveled. Cars were tossed into living rooms.

Tropical Storm Keith blustered ashore in Florida today, spawning tornadoes, flooding streets, knocking down power lines and forcing more than 600 people to evacuate, including residents of a nursing home. A Pacific storm, meanwhile, pummeled Oregon with 75-m.p.h. winds and unleashed heavy rain in Northern California. There were no reports of deaths or injuries from the Florida storm, which packed 65-m.p.h. gusts, but the cost of cleanup was expected to run into the millions.

Thunderstorms from the Gulf of Mexico drenched parts of Texas with rain and triggered tornadoes in Florida. One twister, in Okeechobee, felled trees and damaged houses in the area, but no injuries were reported, a police spokeswoman said. At Venice, Fla., another tornado struck a mobile home park and hurled aluminum debris into power lines, cutting off electricity for several hours. Storm warnings remained in effect for most of southern Florida.

Even before the weekend's 80 m.p.h. winds and near-freezing temperatures, the battered St. Ann Mission here looked like the center of a squatters' encampment. Since being routed from their homes by Hurricane Andrew almost seven months ago, some 160 people have been living in mobile homes, tents and makeshift plywood sheds that surround the old church, cooking on outdoor grills, lining up for showers and praying for a change of luck.

A ferocious late-winter storm billed as one of the worst of the century smashed the Eastern Seaboard on Saturday, spawning killer tornadoes in Florida, dumping record amounts of snow from the Deep South to New England and unleashing gale-force winds that forced thousands of coastal residents to evacuate their homes. At least 42 deaths were attributed to the "Blizzard of '93" and more than 3 million customers were without electricity at the peak of the storm Saturday afternoon.

The National Weather Service said Sunday that it will convene an inquiry into why residents here got no warning before tornadoes ripped through their mobile homes Saturday. Three people were killed, 53 injured and more than 100 homes were destroyed. In the Jacksonville area, more tornadoes tore roofs off businesses and damaged nearby mobile homes and an apartment house Sunday, a Fire Department spokesman said.

Tornadoes hopscotched across the Tampa Bay area for hours Saturday, killing four people at mobile home parks and smashing dozens of houses into splinters, authorities said. A two-day storm with winds gusting up to 90 m.p.h. also was blamed for sinking a freighter. All 15 crew members were rescued after the 255-foot Holstein went down with 2,000 tons of flour late Friday in the Gulf of Mexico.

Tropical Storm Keith blustered ashore in Florida today, spawning tornadoes, flooding streets, knocking down power lines and forcing more than 600 people to evacuate, including residents of a nursing home. A Pacific storm, meanwhile, pummeled Oregon with 75-m.p.h. winds and unleashed heavy rain in Northern California. There were no reports of deaths or injuries from the Florida storm, which packed 65-m.p.h. gusts, but the cost of cleanup was expected to run into the millions.

Tropical Storm Debby continued its eastward track on Tuesday, bringing nasty rains and flooding to northern Florida, where many roads -- including a major highway -- were forced to shut down. For a tropical storm, Debby was taking baby steps, moving at about 3 miles per hour as it shifted from the Gulf of Mexico toward northern Florida, where landfall was expected late Tuesday or Wednesday. Though the storm appeared stuck, its effects -- flooding and high winds -- were being felt along the Florida Panhandle and the western coast.

The storm system Josephine never quite made it to hurricane status but still managed to leave behind a waterlogged and wind-swept mess as it raced up the East Coast on Tuesday. Gale warnings were posted as far north as New England as the storm, large and fast-moving but not as powerful as some had forecast, brought heavy rain and gusty winds across a wide area. Only one fatality was reported.