See photos, videos of tornado flipping cars and destroying homes in Palm Beach County

Omar Rodríguez Ortiz
·4 min read
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A tornado with wind speeds of around 130 mph overturned cars, ripped roofs, snapped trees and took down power poles Saturday afternoon in parts of Palm Beach County.

The destructive vortex with violently rotating winds caused havoc in the city of Palm Beach Gardens, prompting authorities to shut down key roadways as workers removed debris and examined the wreckage. But despite the extensive damage, no deaths or injuries had been reported as of Sunday.

The EF-2 tornado — a category reserved for tornadoes with 111-135 mph winds — started at 5:10 p.m. east of Interstate 95, just south of the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, the National Weather Service in Miami said Sunday afternoon. It then tracked northeast for more than two and a half miles, passing where PGA Boulevard and U.S. 1. meet, and dissipated at 5:21 p.m. before reaching Juno Beach. On Saturday, the weather service had preliminarily ranked the tornado as a weaker EF-1.

Most of the Florida Peninsula — including Miami and Fort Lauderdale — was under a tornado watch Sunday until around 12:30 p.m. No additional tornadoes have been reported.

READ MORE: Will South Florida catch a break after tornado rips through parts of Palm Beach County?

Take a look at the photos and videos captured the tornado and the destruction it caused:

A building at the Sanctuary Cove Apartment complex suffered heavy damage to the roof and windows in the aftermath of a Saturday evening tornado, seen on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Palm Beach Gardens Saturday evening.
A building at the Sanctuary Cove Apartment complex suffered heavy damage to the roof and windows in the aftermath of a Saturday evening tornado, seen on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Palm Beach Gardens Saturday evening.
Blown-out windows and destroyed roof on a condemned building at the Sanctuary Cove Apartment complex on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Palm Beach Gardens Saturday evening.
Blown-out windows and destroyed roof on a condemned building at the Sanctuary Cove Apartment complex on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Palm Beach Gardens Saturday evening.
Samuel Tavarez, a resident at the Sanctuary Cove Apartment complex, attempts to cover the shattered windows of his car with tape and plastic tarp while being assisted by his father, Samuel Tavarez Sr., in the aftermath of a Saturday evening tornado on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Palm Beach Gardens Saturday evening.
Downed trees appear near a property with a damaged roof after a reported tornado hit the area Sunday, April 30, 2023 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Downed trees appear near a property with a damaged roof after a reported tornado hit the area Sunday, April 30, 2023 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Damaged pottery is seen after a reported tornado hit the area Sunday, April 30, 2023 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Damaged pottery is seen after a reported tornado hit the area Sunday, April 30, 2023 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Damaged trees appear on a property after a reported tornado hit the area Sunday, April 30, 2023 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Damaged trees appear on a property after a reported tornado hit the area Sunday, April 30, 2023 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Passers-by photograph tornado damage at the Sanctuary Cove Apartment complex on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Palm Beach Gardens Saturday evening.
Passers-by photograph tornado damage at the Sanctuary Cove Apartment complex on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Palm Beach Gardens Saturday evening.
Samuel Tavarez, a resident at the Sanctuary Cove Apartment complex, attempts to cover the shattered windows of his car with tape and plastic tarp in the aftermath of a Saturday evening tornado on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Palm Beach Gardens Saturday evening.
North Palm Beach Police officers speak with passers-by at the Sanctuary Cove Apartment complex while standing in front of a condemned building on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Palm Beach Gardens Saturday evening.
North Palm Beach Police officers speak with passers-by at the Sanctuary Cove Apartment complex while standing in front of a condemned building on Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Palm Beach Gardens Saturday evening.

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