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VIDEO: Clearwater Beach Waterspout Comes Ashore, 2 Injured

Friday afternoon when storms began coming in to Pinellas County, one waterspout came ashore near Pier 60. Video shows how the twister scattered beachgoers and debris.

Clearwater Beach Tampa Bay Sun Exposure
Andrew M./BBGI

Friday afternoon, storms began coming in to Pinellas County. Video shows how the Clearwater Beach waterspout scattered beachgoers and debris.

Close to 4:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon, one waterspout came ashore a little south of Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach. Many beachgoers began to run, although some were still caught up in its winds.

Two tourists who were hit by flying debris were treated on-site, but were then taken to a local hospital. They were, ironically, from Kansas, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

Clearwater Beach from Pier 60

Clearwater Beach from Pier 60 on a calm, busy day. It only took a few seconds for a waterspout to develop and drift ashore.<br>(Photo by Andrew M.)

As you can see in the videos below, the waterspout approaches and works its way through the umbrellas and cabanas on the beach. It then continues across the street among the nearby resort hotels. However, we lose sight of it there.

The Clearwater Police Department posted this video:

Accuweather shared this video on Twitter.

5 Florida Beaches Ranked Among Top Beaches In The South

After taking votes from readers, USA Today put together a list of 10 locations in the south they call 'must-visit' beaches. Five of them are in Florida. Which of them did they call #1?

In the southern region of the U.S., which was considered Virginia to Texas, 5 of the beaches that made the top 10 were from Florida. That in itself shouldn't be surprising.

Why does Florida do so well in these polls? There are 825 miles of sandy beaches. They're divided among three sections: Florida Panhandle, the Southwest Florida Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean beaches. That may have something to do with it.

Here are the Florida beaches that landed on the USA Today 10Best "Best Beach in the South".

No. 10: Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine

Located a mile east of downtown St. Augustine, Anastasia State Park is popular for windsurfing and kayaking, along with hiking its nature trails.

No. 7: Stuart Beach

Another Atlantic beach, Stuart Beach is located on a barrier island east of Stuart Florida, north of Palm Beach, south of Port St. Lucie. Located near the Elliott Museum and the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, it's a perfect place for a family to visit. There are beach volleyball courts, snacks at the Seaside Cafe and picnic areas to relax for the day.

No. 4: Venice Beach

Florida's Venice Beach features a sail pavilion as this Gulf Coast beach's familiar landmark. Not far from the Venice Public Fishing Pier, there are plenty of chances to see dolphins and various shorebirds. Marine turtles also nest around May and October. Parking is free, and there are lifeguards, concessions, shelters, volleyball courts and picnic areas.

No. 3: Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Beach

An Atlantic beach, located at the relaxing town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, this beach a short drive from the busy city of Ft. Lauderdale. Surrounded by a number of cafes, this is a great escape from the active cities nearby. This is also a popular area for beach diving. There's a coral reef system 100 yards from the beach, perfect for snorkling or scuba diving.

No. 1: Clearwater Beach

In our own backyard, Clearwater Beach is no stranger to the accolades given to the white, sandy beach we see every day. More than just a beach, Clearwater Beach has something for everyone to experience. Surrounded by hotels, restaurants and shops, Clearwater Beach has become one of the world's most famous destinations for fun in the sun. Pier 60 is the centerpiece. The beach is lined with its familiar cabanas and umbrellas. Add in the many things-to-do, including sightseeing by boat, visiting world-famous Clearwater Marine Aquarium, or join the crowd for 'Sunsets at Pier 60' each evening.

Clearwater Beach

Highlighted by that view of Pier 60 leading into the Gulf of Mexico, Clearwater Beach is a highly recognizable Florida destination.

Roxanne is a co-host on the MJ Morning Show and host of Middays on Q105 in Tampa Bay. She also hosts segments on The Current, which features local feel-good stories and health and wellness segments, and airs on five of the six Tampa-based Beasley Media Group stations. Roxanne has conducted hundreds of interviews, from athletes to Oscar winners, including Matt Damon, Christian Bale, and Chadwick Boseman. She also specializes in media training, having worked with clients in the NFL, NBA and WWE for television, in print, and online. Roxanne is a published author and will be releasing a thriller novel in 2024. Her favorite thing in the world is being with her two daughters and husband. As a content creator for Q105, Roxanne writes about family activities in the Tampa Bay area, as well as reviews for local restaurants and travel.