EF1 tornado in Walton County, Florida

Several videos posted on social media indicated that a tornado touched down on the Choctawhatchee Bay just west of the Sandestin Resort. Initial damage included damage to a storm shutter on the condo directly facing the Bay, and isolated snapped and toppled trees between the Bay and Baytowne Avenue West. This damage was consistent with EF0 damage. EF1 damage was observed east of Baytowne Avenue, where several hardwood trees were uprooted in multiple directions on Turnberry Court. After crossing a golf course and small unpopulated area, the highest concentration of damage occurred along Laurel Way and Ravens Run, where multiple trees were snapped and uprooted with minor roof damage noted to a few homes. The tornado continued east causing minor roof damage to a home on Olde Towne Avenue in addition to uprooting a few hardwood trees. The tornado continued to the east of the resort, snapping and uprooting trees on Mack Bayou Road and east Mack Bayou Drive where several fences sustained damage in addition to minor damage to the roof of a small business. The tornado then lifted east of Mack Bayou Drive. Damage was consistent with an EF1 max wind speed of 105 mph.

The middle part of June was unusually stormy across the area. Numerous rounds of strong to severe storms impacted the region with multiple squall lines that produced severe winds as well as supercells that produced large hail and tornadoes. Heavy rain also occurred over a multi-day period, which saturated the ground and led to some instances of flash flooding.

The synoptic pattern featured well above average 250 mb zonal wind anomalies, which were traceable back to an active subtropical jet stream. Greater than average instability was also present, in part due to anomalously warm Gulf of Mexico SSTs. This combination of above average shear from the active subtropical jet and above average instability from the warmer than average SSTs provided a synoptic environment favorable for severe weather as upper level shortwaves moving through the area. This pattern persisted for many days, leading to an unusually large amount of severe weather.