Storm officials say 9 tornados raked Tampa Bay

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The National Weather Service has confirmed that nine tornados raked through the Tampa Bay region on Thursday.

As many as 18,000 residents remained without power Friday, a day after the vicious storms destroyed dozens of homes, flooded road and toppled trucks and small planes.

The weather service says the tornados struck Polk, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties Thursday packing winds from 86 to 110 mph.

In Lakeland, a tent collapsed and injured seven people gathered for the annual Sun 'n Fun aviation festival. A few small planes had flipped over at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport.

There were multiple reports of small tornadoes across the region. Strong winds blew a Carnival cruise ship from its dock at Cape Canaveral.