A "probable" tornado was the cause of damage to numerous homes and properties in the Fort Walton Beach area early Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Based on photos of storm damage and radar data, the storm system that hit the area about 6 a.m. was a probable tornado, said officials from the NWS office in Mobile.
"It was capable of causing a lot more damage than a regular water spout that we see in the summer," said NWS meteorologist Ryan Rogers.