Multiple tornadoes have ripped through a group Florida beach communities, sending a gutter into a car windshield and overturning cars as the weather wrecked havoc on local homes and businesses. 

Large wind gusts and rain was reported early on Thursday morning in western Florida as severe storms tracked into the state due to a low-pressure system. 

Damage has been reported near Clearwater and Crystal River, according to the National Weather Service.

Images taken by the Clearwater Police Department showed debris covering streets in the area, and a gutter that had pierced a car windshield. 

One resident describing the event like being hit by a ‘freight train’, with roof damage and downed power lines also being reported near Crystal River.

Duke Energy has said that 2,000 homes are currently without power in the area. 

The gutter from a property managed to pierce this car windshield during the storm 

Images taken by the Clearwater Police Department showed debris covering streets in the area

Cory Jursik, pictured here, described the sound of the storm as being like a ‘freight train’ that managed to suck the wind out of his home in Clearwater

Homeowner Cory Jursik, who lives in Clearwater, told WFLA: ‘It was like a freight train. It got really loud and it was almost like I could feel the air getting — the wind getting sucked out of the house. 

‘So I looked out the front window and it was like rain-wrapped and obviously looked like a tornado and it just came right up through here.’

The outlet also reported that at least two houses sustained damage but no injuries have yet been reported despite a bedroom wall reportedly collapsing on a woman. 

Forecasters had warned of the threat of damaging winds in the area and isolated tornadoes.

The Weather Service this morning also said there could be more tornadoes in the Crystal River area to come. 

This morning, Clearwater Police Department also said they would be restricting access to the northern part of the city due to the damage from the apparent tornado.

Images shared by the force shows how the winds managed to uproot trees and rip furnishings from inside houses out into the streets. 

One storm chaser also managed to capture the water spout just offshore of Clearwater. 

According to ABC Meteorologist Greg Dee, a water spout is just a tornado that is passing over a body of water. 

Tornado damage is seen at the Harbor Pointe Condominiums, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 in Dunedin, Florida

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The Weather Service this morning also said there could be more tornadoes in the Crystal River area to come

As well as Clearwater, seen here, roof damage and downed power lines were also reported near Crystal River

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office also announced they would have emergency response teams assessing the damage around Crystal River. 

In doing so, they announced they would be closing several highways and rerouting drivers. 

The Citrus County school district also announced that all schools in the county had been canceled due to ‘significant damage’ 

Northern and Central parts of the state could see a few more storms over Thursday, with isolated tornadoes not being ruled out. 

After hitting the west coast of Florida, the storm kept tracking east across the state and eventually hit parts of Northeast Florida. 

According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, there was ‘significant damage’ but no injuries in Palm Coast, on the Atlantic side of the state. 

In Palm Coast on the Atlantic side of the state, officials said the area had suffered ‘significant damage’ and shared this image of an upturned car

Much of Central Florida, seen in this map, is now under tornado watches until 3pm, with strong thunderstorms still ongoing

The City of Palm Coast shared images of a car on its side after the storm passed through on Thursday.

They also urged locals to stay away from the area, saying: ‘The impact of the storm is in the area of Barrington Drive. 

‘This neighborhood is closed off to all traffic at this time due to downed trees and power lines and significant damage to properties. Please avoid the area.’

Much of Central Florida is now under tornado watches until 3pm, with strong thunderstorms still ongoing. 

The storm systems will begin to move into the Atlantic during the early afternoon. 

Heavy rainfall and strong thunderstorms will still be possible over the area through most of Thursday, with activity beginning to wind down into the evening. 

The Florida Emergency Management said: ‘Residents in these areas should have multiple ways to receive weather alerts & be prepared to seek shelter immediately if a tornado warning is issued.’