UPDATE: Fay Lingers Over Fla; Keeps it from Strengthening into Hurricane

Tropical storm Fay continues to sweep across central Florida leaving a path of flooding and destruction in its wake.
The storm is moving north along the Florida coast but not going out over the Atlantic Ocean, where many had feared it
could strengthen and curve back toward the state as a hurricane.

The storm first hit the Florida Keys, veered out to sea and then traversed east across the state on a path that would have taken it over the ocean before it curved toward the Florida-Georgia border. Forecasters expected the storm to get a dose of energy Wednesday when it moved over the Atlantic Ocean, where it could linger and possibly reach hurricane strength

In Barefoot Bay, there are reports of tornadoes.  People were inside when some roofs blew off.
Resident James Bronsing says “like a train and an airplane put together, then all you could see was debris flying everywhere.“
And before the tornado was finished, nine manufactured homes were unlivable, another 42 damaged.
Resident Brenda Doninger says “my window, going to get that blocked off, if not, I guess it’s going to be inside.“
Another resident says “all you heard a noise…it was so fast.“
Barefoot Bay is home to Florida’s largest mobile home community, home to about 8,000.
Hour after hour howling wind and stinging rain played up and down the 70 miles of Brevard’s coastline.
Inches of rain flooded down and 50 mile per hour winds coming in off the ocean flooded roads and knocked down power lines.
Into the night it continues, streets lonely and darkened by the loss of power.
moving north along the Florida coast but not going out over the Atlantic Ocean, where many had feared it could strengthen and curve back toward the state as a hurricane.

For the latest on how Fay may affect Alabama, check out our NBC 13 HD weather blog:

http://www.nbc13.com/vtm/social_networking/blogs/weather_blog/