EF3 Tornado — Palm Beach, Florida

2024-10-09 · near Loxahatchee, Palm Beach, Florida

Event narrative

A tornado originated in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, where there was an observed radar-based circulation and a video of a tornado captured in this area from western Delray Beach. The tornado moved north-northeast, eventually affecting several western Palm Beach County communities. A National Weather Service survey identified the southernmost surveyed point in the Rustic Ranches section of Wellington where a double-wide mobile home on Deer Path Lane was left practically unrecognizable, rated as an EF-3 at this location with 7 injuries reported. The tornado tracked north-northeast over the far western portion of Wellington, across the Lakefield West, Meadowwood, and Binks Forest communities, where EF-1 and EF-2 damage was noted to homes and trees. The tornado crossed Southern Boulevard/US Highway 98, then continued north-northeast across Loxahatchee Groves and The Acreage where EF-1 to isolated EF-2 damage was observed to homes, trees, and outbuildings. The tornado intensified as it approached Northlake Boulevard on the north end of The Acreage, then did its most considerable damage in the Avenir community of Palm Beach Gardens. At the beginning of this community, a large portion of the roof collapsed of a Publix supermarket building which was recently completed and set to open in the near future, and rated EF-3. Considerable structural damage rated EF-2 and EF-3, including heavy roof damage, impact-resistant windows which were shattered and blown in, and vehicles lifted and moved at least 100 yards were observed. The tornado then moved just west but very close to North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport, where a wind gust of 92 mph from the south-southwest was measured at the AWOS around 4:10 PM EST. The tornado crossed Bee Line Highway/SR 710 where tree damage was observed, then entered Jupiter Farms where EF-1 to EF-2 damage was noted to trees, outbuildings, and power poles. Footage from a Florida Turnpike highway camera showed the tornado moving north past Jupiter Farms to the Martin County line, where it continued north for a short distance. The tornado was rated a EF-3 with a path width of 200-300 yards for much of the track, with only a few places where the circulation may have briefly lifted. There were 15 structures destroyed, and 321 with minor to major damage with a total of $81.35 million in damage.

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Milton became a Category 5 hurricane in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Monday, October 7th about 735 miles SW of Tampa while moving east-southeast, then turned east and northeast on Tuesday, October 8th while maintaining Category 4 and 5 strength. Milton's maximum winds decreased as it approached the Florida peninsula on Wednesday, October 9th, and made landfall near Siesta Key as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and a minimum central pressure of 954 mb. The outer circulation of Milton began affecting South Florida late on October 8th, with sustained tropical storm force winds spreading across much of the region through the early morning hours of Thursday, October 10th.

A total of 15 tornadoes were recorded across South Florida on Wednesday, October 9th, two of these reaching EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Moderate to major coastal flooding occurred most of the Collier County coast, mainly on October 9th from late morning through the overnight. Inundation above ground was in the 2-4 foot range across much of the beach and bayfront locations across the county, with a maximum estimated inundation of near 5 feet in Chokoloskee. The tide level at the NOS gauge in Naples Bay near the city dock reached 5.08 ft above Mean Higher High Water (MHHW).

A total of 2,900 people evacuated to refuge centers in Collier County, and about 1,000 in Palm Beach County.

All of the associated effects of Milton in South Florida resulted in 10 injuries and at least $361 million in property damage. The 15 tornadoes associated with Milton resulted in 10 injuries and at least $81 million in damage, mainly in Palm Beach and Glades counties.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (26.5555, -80.3321)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1220027. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.