Tornado Damage — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: Dustie
An EF-1 tornado was reported to have made landfall in Central Florida on Wednesday night. It traveled about a mile and caused major damage to up to 50 residences in its path.
The tornado came down near the Lighthouse Landing subdivision in South Patrick Shores, a coastal hamlet in Brevard County, and continued for over a mile to the east-northeast before eventually moving offshore and out to sea, according to the NWS, which assessed the damage on Thursday.
The tornado made landfall at 5:19 PM and remained there for around five minutes, according to early data from the NWS. The tornado was up to 300 yards wide at its widest point, with maximum sustained winds between 90 and 100 mph.
According to Brevard County, between 40 and 50 homes were harmed by the storms on Wednesday, with the majority suffering just minor harm to their porches, lanais, awnings, siding, and trees. According to county officials, 14 homes sustained roof damage, with two being rated major and 14 being classified as moderate.
The storms also caused between six and twelve electricity poles to sustain damage.
According to the National Weather Service, the tornado was not directly responsible for any known injuries or fatalities.
As strong to severe storms rolled across Central Florida shortly after 5 o’clock, a tornado warning was issued for several areas of Brevard County.
How are tornadoes ranked?
The Enhanced Fujita Scale, named after Dr. Theodore “Ted” Fujita, is used to gauge a tornado’s intensity. It employs a five-point system, 1 to 5, based on wind speed, much like hurricanes.
- EF-0: 65 to 85 mph
- EF-1: 86-110 mph
- EF-2: 111-135 mph
- EF-3: 136-165 mph
- EF-4: 166-200 mph
- EF-5: Over 200 mph
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Mike has more than 30 years of experience in marketing and public relations. He once owned his own agency and has worked with some of the largest brands in the world.
