UPDATED: Victims Identified After Tampa Bay Tornado Kills 2, Injures 5

DUETTE, FL — Two adults are dead and five people injured after an EF2 tornado ripped through the quiet Manatee County community of Duette early Sunday morning.

According to the National Weather Service, the storm, which struck around 4 a.m., has been confirmed as a tornado, believed to be an E-2 in strength. A similar EF2 tornado touched down in Cape Coral last weekend, packing estimated high winds of 132 mph. On Friday, an EF1 tornado touched down in Fort Myers, as well, causing damage in that community.

Sunday morning’s tornado in Duette destroyed a mobile home on Albritton Road around 4 a.m. Manatee County sheriff’s deputies have confirmed the death of a man and a woman. They also say four children and an adult living in the home have been hospitalized.

According to the agency, the tornado caused extensive damage to a mobile home at 40305 Albritton Road. Steven Wilson, 58, and Kelli Wilson, 51, were killed. Steven M. Wilson, 38, and four children, two boys and two girls, between the ages of 6 and 10 were all hospitalized.

As of 1:40 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reported that the two girls were in serious condition. The two boys are listed in stable condition, as is Stephen M. Wilson. The sheriff’s office said three of the children are siblings and the other girl is a cousin. Their names are not being released. As of Sunday afternoon, authorities believed the injuries the four children and Stephen M. Wilson suffered are not life threatening.

The elder Steven Wilson, the sheriff’s office said in an email to media, died at the scene. Kelli Wilson was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

A fundraiser has been established to help the family.

See Also:

• Duette Tornado: How To Help The Victims
• Thousands Without Power in Sarasota, Manatee Counties
• Severe Storms, Tornadoes in Tampa Bay’s Winter Forecast
• Photos: Cape Coral Tornado Damage
• Weather Radios: Deals On Tools For Tracking Florida’s Severe Storms
• Florida Tornadoes: What You Need to Know
• $3 Million Storm Damage Estimated in Sarasota County
• Sarasota Offering Resources For Storm Damage Victims
• Tampa Bay Tornadoes: Damage Assessments Released

The weather service has also confirmed tornado activity in the Sarasota and Siesta Key areas. That tornado has also been classified an EF2 in strength. Damage occurred in both areas, but no fatalities have been reported. As of 7 a.m. Sunday, Sarasota Public Works crews were repairing downed stop signs throughout the city. Minor flooding, downed power lines and down trees have been reported, as well, said Capt. Kevin Stiff of the Sarasota Police Department.

As of late Sunday morning, Sarasota County officials had visited more than 350 properties impacted by the morning’ storms. Residents with storm damage are being asked to call 941-861-5000 to report it. The county estimates damage at more than $3 million. A resource center for residents of Sarasota County who suffered storm damage is scheduled to open Monday morning.

Gov. Rick Scott arrived in the area Sunday to assess damage. Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight and County Administrator Tom Harmer appeared with Scott during a Sunday afternoon media conference. Officials from Florida Power & Light and other emergency personnel were also on hand.

Widespread power outages have been reported in the wake of Sunday’s storms. As of 10:30 a.m., Florida Power & Light estimated about 6,000 customers in Sarasota County and roughly 1,700 in Manatee County were still without power. A spokeswoman for the company told Patch most customers should see service restored by about 6 p.m.

The National Weather Service had a survey crew on site in Duette around 8 a.m. Sunday, weather service meteorologist Tyler Fleming told Patch.

“This is the type of damage we can expect from El Nino type tornadoes,” he said. When this weather pattern is present, it’s “very common for these tornadoes to happen in the middle of the night.”

“Generally, for Florida an El Nino winter means cooler than normal temperatures and wetter than normal (conditions),” weather service meteorologist Rick Davis said in an earlier interview.

The El Nino weather pattern arises when the sea surface temperatures rise in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and impact the northern hemisphere, Davis explained. When that happens, the southern branch of the Jetstream becomes more active. That enables systems to move across the Pacific, across the southern states, through the Gulf of Mexico and into Florida.

“Because the storm systems have a more southern latitude, they’re expected to produce more rain for us and then with that southern storm track more cold fronts (could move in), increasing the chances for severe weather,” Davis said.

Those increased chances for severe weather have AccuWeather forecasters saying Florida should prepare for a winter season of severe thunderstorms.

“Florida, in particular, may have a higher risk for tornadoes this season,” AccuWeather said in a media release in October. “Overall, heavy rain will be widespread for the South. As the season progresses, additional rain on already saturated ground will increase the chances for flooding.”

Those increased chances for severe weather events also have forecasters urging Tampa Bay area residents to get and use NOAA weather radios. The devices receive advisory broadcasts and emergency alerts without the need for paying a monthly subscription. They are generally battery operated or draw solar energy so they can function in poor weather conditions. The radios are designed to send audible alerts when hazardous weather is imminent, generally loud enough to wake people up in the middle of the night if the need arises, forecasters have said.

The weather throughout the Tampa Bay area is expected to clear out as Sunday moves along, but high surf warnings, a coastal flood advisory, wind advisory and rip current cautions remain in effect through the day.

Monday is expected to bring cooler, clear conditions with a high in the low 60s. Forecasters anticipate a mostly clear week with more storm chances moving in Thursday and sticking around into the weekend.

For an extended forecast in your neighborhood, visit your local Patch’s homepage.