Twister hits Little Cayman

Robert Hamaty has seen plenty of tornados in his time as an aviator.

But seeing one on the ground is awhole new experience for him.

“It was powerful,” Mr. Hamaty said. “I’ve seen them, of course. But I’ve never actually been close to one like that.

“I knew immediately what it was from the power of it and the circulation and the sound.”

What emergency management officials believed was a small tornado hit the west end of Little Cayman Sunday evening.

The severe weather struck around 7pm, coming ashore on the south-west side of Little Cayman.

Witnesses said gusts from the twister temporarily lifted parts of the roof off the Light House condos, causing some ceiling damage. A number of other properties sustained minor damage to gates and fences.

According to emergency managers in the Sister Islands, it was believed the tornado was
a waterspout that came onto shore.

“There was no warning, it was torrential rainfall and then all of a sudden – boom,” said District Commissioner Ernie Scott.

One local resident, Jon Hines, said he spotted three waterspouts off the south-western coast of the small island shortly before the twister came onto land. However, those three spouts all stayed at sea, he said.

Cayman Islands National Weather Service Director Fred Sambula said, without Doppler radar available, it would be difficult for officials to determine exactly what hit Little
Cayman Sunday.

“A thunderstorm cloud moved into that area (Sunday) evening, causing short bursts of heavy rainfall and heavy down-drafts of air,” Mr. Sambula said. “What we’d call strong
whirlwinds.”

Mr. Sambula noted it is the season for this type of storm activity, generally called micro bursts.

“Out of the blue you get these sudden spin ups,” he said. “It’s not unusual to have those from spring to summer.”

The Caymanian Compass has now confirmed that all six condos at the Light House complex sustained some level of damage.

Mr. Hamaty said he’s quite sure it was a tornado that went by his condo on the south-western most tip of Little Cayman. The condo owner, his wife, and her aunt were in the condos when the storm struck Sunday.

“Somebody said they saw a waterspout out at sea,” Mr. Hamaty said. “I went to the back patio to see what was happening and right at that point the twister passed.”

“It actually lifted the roof,” he said. “If the wind has continued blowing it would have
taken it off.”

“But the damage is repairable.”

He said five of the six condo complex units were significantly damaged, and some of the patio furniture blew away.

“We’re still looking for some of it,” Mr. Hamaty said.

No one was injured in Sunday’s twister.