Severe weather prompts tornado warnings across central Florida

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Strong storms moved through central Florida Sunday afternoon prompting tornado warning and delaying the running of the Daytona 500.

Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties were all under tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings during the afternoon.

By 5:15 p.m. the worst weather had moved offshore in northern Brevard County and all warnings had been discontinued.

Photos and videos sent in to Channel 9 showed large hail in the Lake Mary and Sanford areas.

There were no reports of serious damage.

Spectators at the Daytona 500 were moved out of the grandstands as heavy rain moved in to the area.

The Daytona 500 continued its recent run of interruptions with a rain delay only 38 laps into the race.
 
NASCAR ordered cars to pit road early in the 200-lap race on Sunday with rain falling at Daytona International Speedway.
 
The Air Titan made its Daytona 500 debut. The Air Titan was designed to reduce track drying time.
 
Daytona delays are becoming common.
 
Matt Kenseth won a rain-shortened Daytona 500 in 2009. The 2010 Daytona 500 was interrupted for more than two hours because of a pothole in the track.
 
Rain forced the 2012 race to be run on a Monday night for the first time. Juan Pablo Montoya slammed into a jet dryer that night, igniting a raging inferno that caused another two-hour delay. Safety workers used Tide laundry detergent to clean up the track.

Race officials plan to resume racing at 8:30 p.m.

WFTV