EF1 Tornado — Monroe, Florida

2024-10-08 · near (eyw)key West Inl Ar, Monroe, Florida

Event narrative

A waterspout with a concentrated single vortex was

observed on the oceanside moving north shortly prior to landfall in

the Truman Annex section of Key West. The subsequent tornado moved

north through a small complex of residential apartmentments.

Numerous large hardwood tree limbs and a snapped set of umbrella

tree trunks were noted, along with removed flashing and shingles

from the corners of one of of the residential structurs. A light

pole of lightweight composite spun material snapped just above its

base along the western side of the the tornado circulation. It was

this location that the maximum estimated peak wind of 95 mph was

assessed. While not specifically rated, partially-filled trash

(approximately 96 gallons) and recycling recepticles were lofted

north and northeastward, with one impact breaking the window frame

and shattering windows on one of the apartment facilities. The

tornado bended very slightly west of due north, passing near a

chapel facility snapping numerous healthy, solid-wood large limbs

from a medium-sized gumbo limbo tree, as well as snappling the

trunks of a medium-large hardwood tree of ill health and a loaded,

unharvested medium-sized coconut palm. The differing directions of

the damage path suggested the tornado likely continued as a narrow

with estimated wind speeds of 80 to 90 mph. The tornado damage path

ended in an undeveloped portion of the Truman Annex with no sign of

continuation into the Key West-Truman Annex Inner Mole waterfront.

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Milton moved northeast across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, gradually weakening from category 5 to category 4 strength while passing, at the closest approach, about 180 statue miles to the northwest of Key West on the afternoon of October 9, 2024. Widespread lower-end tropical storm force winds overspread the Lower Florida Keys and its adjacent coastal waters producing isolated large tree limb and utility line damage. Coastal flooding in lowest elevation parts of the Florida Keys occurred initially with storm surge around 1.5 feet MHHW along the oceanside of the Florida Keys accompanied by heavy wave action on October 9th, with a secondary Gulfside and Florida Bayside storm surge of higher magnitude during the early through mid morning hours October 10th. The highest storm surge values near 3.0 feet above MHHW occurred in Key Largo along Blackwater Sound. One tornado was observed as a waterspout moved ashore the far southwest portion of Key West.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (24.5440, -81.8040)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1220170. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.