EFU Tornado — Indian River, Florida

2024-10-09 · near Blue Cypress Lake, Indian River, Florida

Event narrative

The tornado has been confirmed using a combination of dual polarimetric data from the KMLB WSR-88D as well as photographic evidence from a local storm spotter.

Based on a tornado debris signature (TDS), the circulation touched down in rural Indian River County just west of Blue Cypress Lake where it continued on a west-northwest trajectory. The circulation moved into rural Osceola County where it appears to have briefly intensified before dissipating near US Highway 441. A rating for this tornado is unable to be provided given limited access to the area; however, no property damage was known to occur.

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Milton moved ashore the west-central Florida coast as a category 3 hurricane on Oct 9 around 1930EST. The system continued slowly in an east-northeast trajectory across central Florida, becoming a category 1 hurricane before emerging into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Canaveral. The outer rainbands of Milton overspread the Florida peninsula earlier in the day, leading to a prolific tornado outbreak across Okeechobee, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Osceola and Brevard counties with over 19 confirmed tornadoes within a 4-hour period. Milton's slow forward motion produced very heavy rainfall, with significant urban and street flooding particularly near and north of the center's track, as well as a significant river flood event along the St. Johns. Considerable tree damage and some structural damage occurred due to the system's tropical storm force winds, and hurricane force wind gusts, particularly near and north of the track of the center.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (27.6890, -80.7960)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1220128. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.