1966 — April 4, Tornadoes, Pinellas and Polk Counties, Florida — 11

–11 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1079.

— 8 NCDC/NOAA. Event Record Details, Tornado, Florida, 4 Apr 1966, Polk County, 0810.
— 3 NCDC/NOAA. Event Record Details, Tornado, Florida, 4 Apr 1966, Pinellas County, 0700

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “FL. APR 4, 1966 0800 llk [11 killed] 350inj…F4.

PINELLAS/HILLSBOROUGH/POLK/ OSCEOLA–What was almost certainly a tornado family first moved in from the Gulf of Mexico at Clearwater, where it damaged 36 homes. Passing across the northern part of Tampa Bay, it destroyed 150 homes. The losses there totaled about $4,000,000. Three people died in separate homes on the same block. About 70 others were injured. Homes and a dormitory were unroofed at the University of South Florida. Damage was very severe in the Polk County communities of Gibsonia and Galloway, where about 93 homes were destroyed (F4) and seven people were killed. The destruction of a recreation area on Lake Juliana may have been from downburst winds. The tornado funnel was reported again north of Haines City, where a restaurant and many trailers were destroyed. A woman was killed in a mobile home, 4m N of Davenport. Damage at Kissimmee and St. Cloud may have been downburst related. Polk County totals for both tornadoes were eight deaths, 280 injuries, 480 homes destroyed, and $20,000,000 in losses. No single tornado this day was truly continuous across the entire state of Florida, although tornado and downburst damage together was continuous. This analysis separates the state-crossing event into three separate tornadoes, but it is likely that at least the first two of these were themselves tornado families.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes… 1993, p. 1079.)

Sources

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

National Climatic Data Center. Event Record Details, Tornado, Florida, 4 Apr 1966, Pinellas County, 0700. NCDC, NOAA, Department of Commerce. Accessed 2/6/2009 at: http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~17602

National Climatic Data Center. Event Record Details, Tornado, Florida, 4 Apr 1966, Polk County, 0810. NCDC, NOAA, Department of Commerce. Accessed 2/6/2009 at: http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~17604