Squall Lines in Florida

February 7th, 1971 – Severe squall lines ahead of a strong cold front ripped through Florida causing heavy rain of 3 to 5 inches, several tornadoes, many reports of hail and funnel clouds, and wind gusts of 50 to 65 mph. Hardest hit was the community of Gulf Breeze in Escambia County where a predawn waterspout came ashore as a tornado, destroying an apartment complex and injuring 112 people. Two more people were injured when severe thunderstorm winds and golf ball size hail hit near Chipley in Washington County. Overall, two people were killed. (Charlie Wilson)