Tornado warning fizzles for Treasure Coast, but front destroyed homes in Southwest Florida

The Treasure Coast saw a tornado warning and heavy rain as a powerful storm front came through South Florida on Sunday, but there were minimal disruptions.

The weekly farmer's market in downtown Stuart, the Market on Main, was canceled in anticipation of severe weather, and the weekly waterfront concert that follows the market, Rock'n Riverwalk, was also canceled, leaving the area quieter than usual Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the west coast experienced a larger blow from Mother Nature.

Storms pummeled Southwest Florida on Sunday morning with at least three reports of tornadoes touching down and more than 60 Lee County homes unlivable, 27 of those destroyed.

Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass confirmed at least four injuries from the storms, while Iona-McGregor Fire District officials reported there were others in the area of south Fort Myers, which was hit particularly hard. Officials said there were no deaths.

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Of the remaining homes rendered unlivable in Lee County, 24 had major damage and 14 had minor damage. In south Fort Myers, residents started boarding up blown-out windows and repairing what damage they could almost immediately.

By mid-morning, residents all over Southwest Florida were taking shelter and heeding multiple tornado warnings stretching from Charlotte county south into Collier.

The National Weather Service in Tampa reported tornadoes in the Iona area of south Fort Myers, as well as in south Charlotte County and east of Gateway Estates in Collier County. It was investigating whether it was one tornado or multiple tornadoes.

Reports to the weather service said there was damage in Fort Myers near the Gulf Harbor Marina from a waterspout that came onshore.

Severe thunderstorms also passed through St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties starting in the late morning with threats of 50 mph winds.

A strong cold front pushing through South Florida was the source of severe weather and resulting damages.

Edward Murray, 81, was in his mobile home at Windcrest and Point Breeze in Cottage Point Trailer Park in Fort Myers on Sunday morning when a tornado picked up the structure and tossed it on top of a neighbor's home.

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"That’s my house that’s turned upside down," he said. “The tornado took me off my feet blew me toward the east wall and buried me under the sink, refrigerator, kitchen chairs and everything else.”

A former Chicago resident, Murray and his daughter, Cokie, escaped unharmed, crawling from the wreckage.

“I was so happy when I saw the sky,” Murray said. “I said to the devil, 'It’s not going to be today'.”

Skies are expected to clear tonight with low temperatures dipping to 54 degrees at the southeast coast. Monday will reach about 70 degrees, but then plummet overnight to a chilly 48 degrees.

The Palm Beach Post and Fort Myers News-Press contributed to this report.

Lina Ruiz is TCPalm's watchdog reporter for Martin County. You can reach her at lina.ruiz@tcpalm.com, on Twitter @Lina_Ruiz48 or at 321-501-3845.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Martin County events canceled amid severe weather, tornado warning