On Wednesday evening, June 25, a tornado touched down in Largo, Pinellas County, prompting a National Weather Service (NWS) damage survey on Thursday. The tornado struck near Ulmerton and Belcher Roads amidst severe thunderstorms, uprooting mobile homes and stirring widespread damage. NWS and local meteorologists are working to determine the tornado’s precise strength and path. As of Thursday afternoon, no official EF-scale classification was released, but video and aerial footage show extensive destruction.

In the Ranchero Village and Bay Ranch mobile home parks, around 40–50 homes sustained damage in Ranchero Village, with an additional 10–15 homes affected in Bay Ranch. Residents described terrifying scenes as mobile homes were lifted, flipped, and dropped by powerful winds. One video captured a mobile home hovering briefly before crashing back down. Remarkably, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. A 76-year-old resident sustained minor injuries during the incident, but no serious harm occurred.

Emergency crews, including Largo Fire Rescue, Largo Police, Pinellas Park Fire, and Public Works, responded swiftly. They conducted door-to-door checks, cleared debris, and warned residents to stay clear of hazardous zones. Utility crews also addressed power issues caused by downed lines, with approximately 6,000 households experiencing outages. In addition, the storm unleashed hail—pea to quarter-sized—and heavy rainfall, heightening the severity of conditions on the ground ⁠. Communities from Largo into Pinellas Park saw their landscapes battered and debris strewn across roads. The ongoing NWS storm survey is essential to establishing the tornado’s EF rating, path, length, and width. That classified data is expected by later Thursday, following preliminary aerial and ground assessments.⁠

Local authorities and the American Red Cross have already mobilized. Residents in affected areas are urged to seek assistance through the Red Cross at 1‑800‑RED‑CROSS. Meanwhile, cleanup and recovery efforts continue, with first responders focused on restoring essential services and aiding displaced families. This tornado—unexpected in a severe-thunderstorm setting rather than under a formal tornado watch—highlights Florida’s volatile early-summer weather. Storms triggered by sea breezes and low-pressure systems can spawn powerful, fast-moving tornadoes with little warning. As the community braces for recovery, attention will turn to NWS’s detailed report and future strategies to bolster preparedness and emergency response in Tama Bay’s summer storm season. If you're curious about the tornado's EF classification once released, local recovery efforts, or ways to help affected residents, just let me know!