The National Weather Service in Miami issued a Special Weather Statement on Friday, October 23, for a strong thunderstorm affecting metro and coastal Palm Beach County through 3:00 PM EDT.
At 2:16 PM, meteorologists were tracking the storm near Ocean Ridge, moving south at 15 mph, and said it is capable of producing a waterspout and wind gusts of 45 to 50 mph. Locations impacted include Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Lake Worth, Palm Beach, Ocean Ridge, Lantana, Hypoluxo, South Palm Beach, Gulf Stream, and Briny Breezes. Waterspouts can overturn boats and create hazardous waters, and gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.
The NWS advises seeking shelter in a safe building until the storm passes, noting that funnel clouds can touch down and produce waterspouts, and a landfalling waterspout can cause property damage and serious injury.
