EF2 tornado cut a 30-mile path through the Treasure Coast

The National Weather Service (NWS) continues to survey damage associated with last week’s devastating tornado outbreak in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.

Three new tornadoes were confirmed Thursday, including one that ripped a more than 30-mile path through Martin and St. Lucie counties.

The NWS, which covers the Treasure Coast, said they have now confirmed 12 tornadoes – three that started in Okeechobee, five in Martin and four in St. Lucie counties. There were also four confirmed tornadoes in Palm Beach County.

Assessments continue for the Treasure Coast and more tornado confirmations are possible.

“Three additional tornadoes (possibly occurred) in rural portions of the Indian River and far northeastern Okeechobee counties,” William Ulrich of NWS Melbourne said Thursday. “We will continue to request damage reports for these, but they are in very rural areas.”

Below are the reports on the 3 new tornadoes confirmed on Thursday:

EF2 tornado rips through Palm City and Fort Pierce

A tornado with peak winds of 125 mph began at 5 p.m. on Oct. 9 in Palm City and lasted until 5:50 p.m. in Fort Pierce, ripping a 31.60-mile path through the Treasure Coast, according to the NWS.

Experts believed this tornado, with a path width of 1,000 feet, initially touched down in Palm Beach County and then moved into rural Martin County, damaging a few homes south of Southwest Kanner Highway.

“A large, newer construction home sustained extensive damage when nearly its entire roof was torn off and thrown onto an adjacent home. Nearby metal storage structures were also significantly damaged, indicating EF-2 wind speeds of 115 to 120 mph,” the report said. said.

The tornado continued north through rural Martin County, striking homes along Citrus Boulevard while producing winds of 80 to 105 miles per hour (EF0 to EF1).

“The circulation damaged several industrial buildings, including a gas station canopy, near Southwest Martin Highway and Southwest 42nd Avenue.

The NWS said the tornado then crossed the Florida Turnpike, where it entered several subdivisions but caused only minor damage as most homes were made of concrete blocks, the report said.

According to the investigation, the circulation entered the St. Lucie River and became a “well-defined” waterspout, which later affected the St. Lucia River Club in Ballantrae, causing significant vegetative damage and minor property damage.

Other property damage was also reported, including loss of shingles and soffit damage as the storm moved north on U.S. Highway 1 and into Savannas Preserve State Park in Port St. Lucie with winds up to 80 mph.

The NWS said radar data suggested the tornado briefly intensified before moving into the Indian River Estates subdivision, where numerous homes were struck.

“Here, several parked vehicles were turned over and thrown, and a few homes had partial roof loss, indicating that the tornado produced peak winds of up to 90 miles per hour,” the study said.

The tornado continued north toward Fort Pierce, where it appears to have dissipated near the Dixieland and High Point subdivisions.

There were no injuries from this tornado.

EF1 tornado hits Fort Pierce, Vero Beach

A tornado that started in Fort Pierce at 3:05 p.m. remained on the ground for about 12 minutes until ending in Vero Beach at about 3:17 p.m. with winds of 90 mph.

With a path length of 6.60 miles, this tornado had a path width of 350 feet.

The National Weather Service said this tornado touched down near the Meadowood Golf and Tennis Club in Fort Pierce, where it caused significant vegetative damage in the form of downed oak trees.
and pine trees, as well as Royal Palms at a local nursery.

According to the report, the arterial road crossed Indrio Road, where several pines were uprooted or broken, indicating wind speeds of up to 90 miles per hour.

The NWS said the tornado then moved generally northwest next to Interstate 95, where it caused minor damage to carports and roofs of a few mobile homes in the Spanish Lakes subdivision.

The tornado then briefly moved into Indian River County as it crossed 25th Street Southwest and dissipated.

There were no injuries from this tornado.

The EF0 tornado starts in northern Palm Beach County and ends in southern Martin County

A tornado with peak winds of 80 mph began in Jupiter at 5:21 p.m. and ended in Hobe Sound at 5:30 p.m., with a path length of 6.95 miles.

The National Weather Service said this EF0 tornado crossed I-95 around mile marker 91 around 5:25 p.m.

“A report from the Florida Highway Patrol indicated that the tornado caused damage to trees and overturned a tractor-trailer at this location,” the report said. “The tornado then moved into Jonathan Dickinson State Park where it is believed to have dissipated for a short period of time.”

The investigation shows that the supercell that produced this tornado subsequently touched down again south of US Highway 1 near Mariner Sands Country Club, where greater damage occurred.

The NWS said the track of this tornado may be updated or added to the EF2 tornado that occurred in Stuart if additional damage reports are received from around Southeast Bridge Road.