Massive waterspout caught on camera off Sebastian coast as lightning storms trigger fires inland

The Brief

  • A towering waterspout stunned onlookers in Sebastian, Florida, dipping completely down into the Intracoastal Waterway.
  • Farther inland, intense lightning traveled directly through an electrical grid, sparking a wall fire behind an apartment dryer in Altamonte Springs.
  • The FOX 35 Storm Team warns Central Floridians to stay weather aware as active storm patterns persist through the weekend.

SEBASTIAN, Fla. A restless storm system rolling out of the Gulf hammered Central Florida on Friday, triggering a day of wild weather contrasts that left coastal communities staring at a massive waterspout while emergency crews inland rushed to contain dangerous lightning hazards.

The stormy afternoon began with a breathtaking spectacle along the Indian River County coast. Bill and Jennifer Larrabee, the local photographers behind Lunar Impressions Photography, were grabbing a bite to eat at the Tiki Bar and Grill in Sebastian when they watched the afternoon sky turn an ominous shade of black.

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