Strong winds whipped through central Florida on Thursday, uprooting trees and knocking over street signs as weather officials warned of possible tornadoes.

The fierce gusts hit an area from Tampa on the Gulf of Mexico to Atlantic coastal cities of Melbourne and Palm Bay.

The National Weather Service urged residents to take precautions in the face of strong winds.

"Gusty winds of 45 to 55 miles per hour (70 to 80 kilometers per hour) can be expected, which can cause unsecured objects to blow around, snap tree limbs and cause power outages," the weather service said.

"Torrential rains will reduce visibility to near zero and will cause ponding of water on roadways."

A tornado watch was issued for several areas of Florida.