Tropical Storm in Coastal Palm Beach, Florida

Tropical Storm Mitch, after devastating portions of central America as a hurricane then dissipating over land, reformed over the Bay of Campeche and moved northeast across the Yucatan Peninsula, the southeast Gulf of Mexico and into south Florida. Casualties in south Florida included two drownings in a fishing boat that capsized near the Dry Tortugas and about 65 injuries, most of them minor, in the upper Keys involving tornadoes. Losses are estimated at $50 million, including $20 million in crop damage. Much of the property damage was caused by the five tropical storm-spawned tornadoes, one of which reached a maximum intensity of F2, in the upper Keys. A total of 646 dwellings were damaged or destroyed in an area mainly from Islamorada to North Key Largo. Other tornadoes touched down in Broward, Palm Beach and Collier counties. Widespread rainfall totals across south Florida averaged 6 to 8 inches with local amounts of 13 inches. The storm surge was 2 to 4 feet in the Keys and along the southwest Florida coast and 1 to 2 feet along the southeast Florida coast which produced minor tidal flooding, beach erosion and damage to marine structures and vessels. The maximum officially measured sustained wind in south Florida was 52 knots (60 mph) with a peak wind gust of 57 knots (65 mph). The maximum sustained wind measured on land was 35 knots (40 mph) with a peak wind of 48 knots (55 mph) at Key West International Airport. About 55,000 customers lost commercial electrical power.