Pasco County Storm Damage Photos

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — While most Tampa Bay area residents escaped the wrath of Thursday morning’s storms, some in the Port Richey and New Port Richey areas weren’t so lucky.

The strong line of thunderstorms that moved through the area caused damage at multiple locations on both sides of U.S. 19, Pasco County officials reported.

Suspicions that a tornado might be to blame for the damage reported was confirmed Thursday morning by the National Weather Service. County spokesman Doug Tobin reported at 10:40 a.m. that the initial assessment from the weather service's Daniel Noah indicates an EF 0 tornado touched down in Pasco County.

"He said the damage appears to be in a narrow line from the Gulf of Mexico to just east of U.S. 19," Tobin wrote in an email to media.

A final assessment report from the weather service is expected later on Thursday. An EF 0 tornado can produce wind gusts of 65-85 mph, according to the weather service.

As of 8:20 a.m., Tobin said damage had been reported at 24 homes and businesses along U.S. 19.

The county released photos of some of the damage it found during a Thursday morning tour of the affected areas on its Facebook page. Pasco County residents with damage to report are asked to call 727-847-2411.

Photos courtesy of Pasco County

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