EF0 Tornado — Martin, Florida

2024-10-09 · near Hobe Sound, Martin, Florida

Event narrative

Using a combination of reports from Martin County Emergency Management and radar dual polarimetric data, the National Weather Service in Melbourne can confirm that a tornado moved northward out of Jupiter (Palm Beach County) and into far southern Martin County. This is associated with the Palm Beach Gardens tornado that was recorded by the National Weather Service Miami Office.

Radar data suggests the circulation was weakening as it moved into Martin County before crossing I-95 around Mile Marker 91. A report from Florida Highway Patrol indicated the tornado produced tree damage and flipped a tractor trailer at this location. The tornado subsequently moved into Jonathan Dickinson State Park where it believed to have lifted.

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 → (26.9568, -80.1867)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1220142. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.