A powerful line of storms swept through Pinellas County on Wednesday evening, bringing heavy rain, hail, intense lightning, and a confirmed tornado that caused significant damage in parts of Largo.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The Ranchero Village and Bay Ranch mobile home communities near Ulmerton Road bore the brunt of the destruction, though storm damage was also reported in areas stretching from Belcher Road down to Bryan Dairy Road.

By Thursday morning, debris from the tornado was still visible, with scattered pieces of mobile homes littering Ulmerton and Belcher roads. Siding, insulation, and twisted metal were blown hundreds of yards from their original locations.

During the peak of the storm late Wednesday afternoon, residents described watching debris swirl violently in the air as the tornado pushed through. Loud bangs, whipping winds, and a barrage of hail signaled the storm’s arrival.

In Ranchero Village, residents emerged to find their homes damaged—carports torn off, roofs ripped away, and trees tangled with storm debris. Emergency crews responded quickly, going door to door to check on residents.

Approximately 20 homes lost their roofs in the storm.

“Houses are destroyed, and people are devastated—just walking around in shock,” Ranchero Village resident Tim Mudder told Bay News 9. “All of a sudden we heard a loud bang, ran outside, and everything was blowing sideways. Debris was flying everywhere—it looked like confetti, but it was shingles and rooftops. It was crazy.”

Reports of hail accompanied the tornado, with some of the largest stones—well over the size of a quarter—falling as far west as the beaches and reaching areas like Clearwater and Oldsmar. The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado Thursday morning.

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(Image credit: Spectrum News/Fadia Patterson)

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