5 tornadoes touched down in Miami-Dade, Broward and the Florida Keys, officials say
If Sunday’s thunderstorms and high gusts of wind made you feel like a twister was whizzing by, you may have been right.
The National Weather Service in Miami and Key West confirmed Monday that five tornadoes touched down in South Florida over Presidents’ Day weekend.
Specific locations ranged from as far south as Cudjoe Key in the Lower Keys to as far north as Oakland Park in Broward County. The severe weather left some damage behind but no deaths or injuries.
In a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, Miami’s weather service officials said they reviewed storm data in addition to surveying social media and the grounds extensively, ultimately concluding that the tornadoes occurred.
Tornado hits south Miami-Dade
The first in mainland South Florida touched down at 2:57 p.m. Sunday on Krome Avenue in south Miami-Dade County, causing some damage to vegetation there.
Meteorologists couldn’t immediately determine its rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, or EF Scale, which experts use to rate a tornado’s wind speed and related damage. They also could not immediately calculate its estimated peak winds, path length or maximum width.
Three tornadoes touch down in Broward
The second tornado arrived about 20 minutes later at 3:20 p.m., hitting in Broward, namely Miramar and Pembroke Pines.
Meteorologists calculated its EF rating at 0, meaning it generated three-second gusts of winds as fast as 65-85 miles per hour. They also put its peak winds at 75 miles per hour and its noncontinuous path at just over 3.5 miles.
The phenomenon was as wide as 100 yards, the weather experts added, and it toppled some tree branches and uprooted some trees entirely.
The third tornado also took place at 3:33 p.m. in Broward, this time near Cooper City, Davie and Plantation. Its path also lasted about 3.4 miles, but its maximum width was larger, at 350 yards. It was also rated an EF-0 tornado and its peak winds came at 80 miles per hour. The third also affected some trees.
READ MORE: It’s about to feel colder in South Florida. Here’s how low the wind chill could get
The fourth tornado happened at 3:55 p.m., a bit farther north in Broward at Oakland Park. Witnesses told meteorologists they saw a tornado “flipping several cars” in a residential neighborhood. Experts could not immediately determine its EF rating, peak winds, path length or max width.
Water spout turns into tornado in the Florida Keys
A water spout turned into a tornado in the Lower Keys around noon Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Key West.
The EF-0 tornado, up to 150 yards wide, was captured on video as it entered through Cudjoe Bay and traversed Cudjoe and Big Torch keys for about a mile with a max wind speed of 85 mph, the weather agency said Wednesday.
The top portion of a tree fell onto a manufactured residence, causing major wall damage, the agency said. Numerous roofing panels flew as far as 300 yards.
This story was originally published February 19, 2024 at 5:38 PM.
