Strong storms down trees, produce multiple reports of hail in Palm Beach County, Treasure Coast

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Multiple locations in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast were hit by a fury of strong storms Wednesday afternoon, which produced gusty winds, heavy rain and hail.

The storms prompted a series of severe thunderstorm warnings for much of the afternoon.

Large trees were uprooted, including in Fort Pierce, Jupiter Farms and Jensen Beach.

One tree damaged a multi-unit home in the 1700 block of Canal Terrace in Fort Pierce.

Todd Wilson/WPTV

"We heard a lot of wind, a lot of rain," Darlene Polycarpe told WPTV's Todd Wilson. "Seen all the wind and the rain and all of a sudden it got worse and then seconds later I literally had just left the kitchen and while I was standing in the front door me and my son, we heard a loud noise."

The tree is so heavy it dented the roof line of the house, making the house uninhabitable.

This has happened while she is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

The American Red Cross is putting her family up for the night.

In Jupiter Farms, a large tree was felled by heavy winds on 93rd Lane North.

The homeowner estimated the tree was more than 30 years old.

"I'm sure this tree has been here longer than most of the residents here so it's sad to see it go," neighbor Victoria Koehler told WPTV's Joel Lopez.

She walked around the neighborhood assessing the damage.

Also in Jupiter Farms, a 75-foot palm snapped in half, falling on the fence of Jeff Burck's home and barricading his driveway.

He said he feels "absolutely" lucky the tree landed where it did.

The National Weather Service reported a 79 mph wind gust at a weather station in Port St. Lucie. There was also a wind gust of 85 mph reported on Sewall's Point in Martin County.

There have been multiple reports of quarter-sized hail in northern Palm Beach County including in Jupiter and Jupiter Farms. There were even reports of golf-ball-sized hail in Palm Beach Gardens.

Martin County Fire Rescue said strong winds from the storms sent a tree down onto live power lines in the Sunny Acre community in Jensen Beach.

Crews arrived and found lines arcing onto the roof of an unoccupied home near 2400 Northeast Palm Avenue at about 6:30 p.m.

Firefighters said they secured the scene and then handed the situation over to Florida Power & Light personnel.