EF2 Tornado — Highlands, Florida

2024-10-09 · near Lake Placid, Highlands, Florida

Event narrative

Tornado estimated to have begun near the southeastern shore of

Lake Clay before moving north-northwest across the lake and

entering the Tropical Harbor Mobile Home community situated along

the northern shore of the lake. Approximately 20 to 30 units

suffered damage, primarily consisting of carports being peeled

off or removed, along with various degrees of roof, carport and

patio damage. A few units suffered partial wall collapses as a

result of the roof being compromised, with 1 injury as a result

when a woman sheltering inside her bedroom was injured by a

collapsing exterior wall. One unit was found to have been

displaced approximately one foot off its supports, along with its

roof mostly removed and a few walls collapsed. A number of large

limbs were felled in the community as well. The tornado continued

to track north-northwest across unpopulated areas beyond the

mobile home park, then across a solar farm, before likely

dissipating near the southern shore of Lake Apthorpe. Maximum estimated winds were 130 mph.

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Milton made landfall along the west-central Florida coast near Siesta Key at 7:30 PM EST on October 9th as a major, Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. 2 days prior to landfall on October 7th, Milton reached its peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph and a minimum pressure of 897 mb, making it the 5th most intense Atlantic hurricane of record in terms of pressure, and the strongest Atlantic hurricane since the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Milton would weaken due to an eyewall replacement cycle the following day before reattaining Category 5 status, before a weakening trend ensued early on the 9th and persisted through landfall due to increasing vertical wind shear and dry air. Milton produced wide ranging impacts across the western Florida panhandle from all commonly associated tropical cyclone hazards.

Milton produced a widespread swath of wind gusts of 80 to 100 mph across Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties, affecting the heavily populated Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area along with other large population centers including Bradenton and Sarasota. Wind gusts over 60 mph extended well into southwest Florida and up into the Nature Coast as well. Widespread significant structural and tree damage resulted from the strong winds, leading to numerous power outages that saw a peak of over 3.5 million customers without power.

Official storm surge measured by tidal gauges ranged from around 5 to 7 feet above normally dry ground in Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties, south of where the center moved ashore; however, peak water levels were estimated to have reached up to 10 feet above normally dry ground per NWS storm surveys following the storm, with numerous homes and structures damaged or destroyed by the storm surge across coastal Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties. Offshore winds north of Milton's center produced blowout tide conditions resulting in lower than normal water levels, which occurred from around Tampa Bay extending northward across coastal Nature Coast locations.

Milton produced a widespread swath of heavy rainfall just north of its track across the peninsula, with maximum storm totals of generally 12 to 18 inches and some local totals in excess of 20 inches, spanning from the Tampa Bay area north and east into parts of Pasco, Polk and Sumter counties. These heavy rains resulted in widespread flash flooding and eventually led to moderate to major river flooding, with some river gauge sites establishing new record crests as a result.

Prior to landfall, at least a dozen tornadoes impacted west central and southwest Florida as outer rainbands moved across the area, establishing a new record number of tornadoes to affect the area in a 24-hour period. The strongest of these tornadoes were two EF-2 tornadoes, one that tracked through the Fort Myers area, and another that tracked across the Lake Placid area. While the tornadoes were responsible for structural and agricultural damage, only an injury was reported.

Milton's overall impacts across the western Florida peninsula resulted in 7 direct fatalities, 4 indirect fatalities, and over $3 billion in insured losses. Over 200 homes were destroyed, with over 2,000 suffering major damage, and 5,000 suffering minor damage. Over 400 businesses were impacted by Milton.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (27.3052, -81.3420)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1223136. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.