Tornadoes Batter Florida Panhandle as Massive Storm Sweeps Across Eastern US

A massive storm swept across the eastern United States on Jan. 9, stretching as far north as Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan and southward to Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, where tornadoes ripped apart buildings and overturned large vehicles. The south saw winds upwards to 55 mph, with a wind gust of 106 mph recorded in Walton County, Florida, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Several homes and businesses in Panama City Beach, Florida, were destroyed after a tornado touched down early in the day, leaving building debris and furniture strewn throughout parking lots, yards, and local roadways. The storm produced heavy rainfall across the Sunshine State with coastal flooding and high winds, the NWS said in a weather alert....