A tornado ravaged through Escambia County in Florida on Monday afternoon, leaving more than 20,000 without power.
Gulf Power confirmed that about 2,600 customers had no power after the storm hit and the number grew. By Tuesday morning, the company restored power to all but 6,200 customers.
The tornado kick started its wrath in Century, Florida at 3:30 p.m., the National Weather Service reported. At least three suspected tornadoes touched down in Florida's Panhandle and Mississippi, destroying more than a dozen houses, damaging a school, and trapping residents under debris. In Panhandle alone, as many as 30 homes were damaged.
The tornado's path was directed towards Alabama. Officials launched an assessment of the extent of damage as well as the exact path taken by the storm system. The tornadoes are suspected to be part of a giant winter weather system over eastern U.S. They were packed with strong winds, rain and snow.
"Most of the storms push out by 8 o'clock off the coast altogether as we dry out and see more sunshine through the day," meteorologist Troy Bridges said.
According to Escambia County Sheriff's Deputy Mark Dewes, he has never seen a tornado as big and fast as the one he witnessed landing in Florida. The tornado uprooted trees, destroyed homes and instilled terror among those who saw it.
"I saw it coming across toward us, I felt my house shake. It went on for a good 30 seconds," a resident, said. He was thankful that none from his neighborhood was killed by the giant tornado.
On the other hand, western states such as California and Arizona, are experiencing record-high temperatures. The abrupt and extreme changes in climate are thought to be driven by the ongoing El Niño phenomenon.
The present weather condition in the country is brought about by the phenomenon is part of a worldwide impending problem. In the U.S., this means experiencing many months of cool and wet temperatures across some parts, while others are faced with relatively warm and dry conditions.
