SMOKE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. >> 100 POUNDS OF METAL WENT FLYING IN CAPE CORAL DURING YESTERDAY’S STORMS. THAT IS CRAZY. WIND RIPPED A TOOLBOX RIGHT OUT OF THIS TRUCK ON SOUTHWEST 4TH AVENUE. THE ONE AT THAT TOP OF YOUR SCREEN, NOT THE ONE WITH THE TRAILER RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. TOP OF YOUR SCREEN. THIS WAS ON SOUTHWEST 4TH AVENUE AND THE DAMAGE DID NOT STOP THERE. >> HERE >> YOU CAN SEE BETTER ON THE DAMAGE IT WAS A STRONG AS WHAT I’VE SEEN, NOT. >> HOLY SMOKES DEFENSES WERE RIPPED APART. PATIO FURNITURE WAS TOSSED AROUND IN CAPE CORAL AND ALONG MCGREGOR BOULEVARD IN FORT MYERS, GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER KENDALL BRAND CONTINUES. OUR TEAM COVERAGE SHOWING YOU THE DAMAGE FROM YESTERDAY’S STORMS. THESE BRANCHES THAT LINE THE CURB ON WESTMINSTER DRIVER SNAPPED IN HALF AND SENT INTO THE AIR FROM YESTERDAY’S STORM. THOSE POWERFUL WINDS EVEN TEARING ROOFS APART ON THE STREET. >> NOW ACROSS THE BRIDGE IN CAPE CORAL, WE’RE SEEING NEW VIDEO OF THOSE STRONG WINDS TAKING A 100 POUND TOOL BOX BOLTED FROM A MAN STRUCK AND SENDING IT FLYING INTO THE AIR. MAKE WHITE WOOD SAYS HE WAS FIXING UP HIS TRUCK WHEN SUDDENLY. >> HE REALIZED HIS WORK WAS JUST BEGINNING. CERTAINLY LIKE WE JUST HEARD THE >> A TRUCK PUSHED BACK TO THE 8 FEET. AND THEN THE 2 BOOKS JUST CAME FLYING OUT. YOU CAN SEE IN THIS EXCLUSIVE VIDEO, THE WINDS REACHING ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR, EVEN PICKED UP HIS TRUCK ON SOUTHWEST 4TH AVENUE. HIS TOOLBOX FLEW DOWN THE ROAD DUE TO WHAT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS CALLING A POSSIBLE LAND SPOUT OR TORNADO BEING TOO IN. YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE A KINGSBURG. >> NOTHING LIKE A TORNADO FUNNEL. >> OVER IN FORT MYERS, AN UMBRELLA IS STILL HANGING FROM A POWER LINE AFTER THE WINDS LIFTED INTO THE AIR IN THE TANGLEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN SEEN IN THIS VIDEO PUSH CATARINA DOOR CO VOTE TO RUN FOR COVER, GET INSIDE AND SAFE PLACE. >> WHAT I DID, I DON’T PANIC USUALLY BY THE I SAT WAS HOLDING THE FALL ON. I WAS SHAKING BOTH WHITE WOULD AND OR COVID SAY YESTERDAY WAS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF MOTHER NATURE’S POWER. THE HURRICANE. THEY KNOW IT’S COMING. >> AND WE KNOW THAT BUT IOTA AND WE WORK IN LEG, LIFT THE END SAINT BEAST AND TRYING TO COVER THE HOUSE. THIS WAS NOT. NOT EXPECTED TO >> 3G FLASHBACKS TO COMING TO THAT TIME OF YEAR DID SPEAK WITH A WOMAN WHO LIVES INSIDE THIS HOME WITH A BLUE TARP ON THE ROOF. SHE SAYS HER ENTIRE ROOF WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AFTER THE DAMAGE FROM YESTERDAY’S STORM IN FORT MYERS, KENNEL BRANDT GULF COAST NEWS. ONE NIGHT OF HEAVY RAIN WAS ENOUGH TO LEAVE SOME PARTS OF NORTHEAST CAPE CORAL UNDER WATER. >> NOW PEOPLE LIVING IN THE CITY’S UTILITIES EXTENSION PROJECT SAY THEY’RE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHEN WE GET EVEN STRONGER. SUMMER STORMS. OUR TEAM COVERAGE CONTINUES TONIGHT AT 6. WE’RE INVESTIGATING WITH THIS PROJECT COULD MEAN FOR SUMMERTIME FLOODING. AND NOW THAT WE ARE IN RAINY SEASON OFFICIALLY MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE GULF COAST NEWS APP. WE’RE GOING TO SEND ALERTS ABOUT LIGHTNING AND SEVERE WEATHER AND YOU’LL BE ABLE ACCESS OUR LIVE DOPPLER RADAR. IF YOU HAVE ANY STORM PICTURES OR VIDEOS, PLEASE SEND THEM INTO OUR NEWSROOM. YOU CAN E-MAIL
Video shows wild storm winds lift truck, damage roofs and property in Lee County
Updated: 6:26 PM EDT May 18, 2026
Powerful winds swept through Cape Coral and Fort Myers during Sunday’s storm, snapping branches, tearing roofs apart and sending debris flying. In Cape Coral, winds reaching about 50 miles per hour ripped a toolbox from its bolts on a truck, as captured in exclusive video. Mick Whitewood, a Cape Coral resident, said he was working on his truck when the storm hit. “We just heard the “errr,” the truck got pushed back about eight feet, and then the toolbox just came flying out,” Whitewood said. The National Weather Service described the event as a possible landspout or tornado, with video showing the winds lifting Whitewood’s truck on Southwest Fourth Avenue. “I’ve been to, in, you know, a few hurricanes, but nothing like a tornado or funnel cloud,” Whitewood said. In Fort Myers, an umbrella remains tangled in a power line after being lifted into the air by the storm in the Tanglewood neighborhood. At least two homes on Westminster Drive suffered roof damage. One homeowner said her roof will have to be replaced. Around the corner, video shows the wind moving around furniture and debris. “It was a shock, and I’m a pretty quick responder. So, my brain, it’s always say, get to your, you know, get inside in a safe place,” said Katerina Dvorakova, the woman who took the video. “I don’t panic usually, but as I was holding the phone, I was shaking.”Both Whitewood and Dvorakova reflected on the storm as a reminder of nature’s unpredictability. “With the hurricane, we know it’s coming, OK, we know the week prior, and we work like little ants and bees and trying to cover the house. This was not, not expected,” Dvorakova said.”It just brings you flashbacks to ‘All right, coming to that time of year again,'” Whitewood said. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
Powerful winds swept through Cape Coral and Fort Myers during Sunday’s storm, snapping branches, tearing roofs apart and sending debris flying.
In Cape Coral, winds reaching about 50 miles per hour ripped a toolbox from its bolts on a truck, as captured in exclusive video.
Mick Whitewood, a Cape Coral resident, said he was working on his truck when the storm hit.
“We just heard the “errr,” the truck got pushed back about eight feet, and then the toolbox just came flying out,” Whitewood said.
The National Weather Service described the event as a possible landspout or tornado, with video showing the winds lifting Whitewood’s truck on Southwest Fourth Avenue.
“I’ve been to, in, you know, a few hurricanes, but nothing like a tornado or funnel cloud,” Whitewood said.
In Fort Myers, an umbrella remains tangled in a power line after being lifted into the air by the storm in the Tanglewood neighborhood. At least two homes on Westminster Drive suffered roof damage. One homeowner said her roof will have to be replaced. Around the corner, video shows the wind moving around furniture and debris.
“It was a shock, and I’m a pretty quick responder. So, my brain, it’s always say, get to your, you know, get inside in a safe place,” said Katerina Dvorakova, the woman who took the video. “I don’t panic usually, but as I was holding the phone, I was shaking.”
Both Whitewood and Dvorakova reflected on the storm as a reminder of nature’s unpredictability.
“With the hurricane, we know it’s coming, OK, we know the week prior, and we work like little ants and bees and trying to cover the house. This was not, not expected,” Dvorakova said.
“It just brings you flashbacks to ‘All right, coming to that time of year again,'” Whitewood said.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.