EF0 Tornado — Polk, Florida

2024-08-04 · near South Mulberry, Polk, Florida

Event narrative

A supercell embedded within an outer rainband associated with Tropical Storm Debby began showing signs of increased organization around 13:40 EST as it moved north-northwest across southern Polk County between Bowling Green and Fort Meade. The storm continued exhibiting signs of increasing organization as it passed west of Fort Meade, before a NWS volunteer relayed video of a tornado associated with the storm around 13:58 EST just north of FL Hwy 640 near Agricola Rd. The volunteer relayed that the tornado continued on the ground for approximately 2 minutes before dissipating over open field after tracking around a mile and a half. No significant damage was reported, with likely only minor tree damage resulting from the tornado. Maximum winds were estimated around 75 mph.

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Debby made landfall north of the local area along the Big Bend region of Florida near Steinhatchee around 7 AM EST on August 5th as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. Despite Debby's track west of the Florida peninsula, impacts overspread the area from coastal locations spreading inland.

Storm surge affected the immediate coast from Ft. Myers northward through Cedar Key, where water levels peaked over 4 feet above normally dry ground across the upper Nature Coast and the Cedar Key area. Wind gusts of up to 60 to 70 mph affected much of the western Florida coast, with the strongest winds occurring along immediate coastal areas from around Tampa and St. Petersburg northward across Nature Coast locations, producing generally minor damage along with power outages. Torrential rainfall accompanied Debby as the rainbands east of its center moved across the area. Totals as high as 15 to 20 inches were reported, with hardest hit west-central and southwest Florida areas requiring numerous water rescues from flooded vehicles and homes as a result of extensive flash flooding and subsequent river flooding, and at least one official river gauge site established a new record crest. Multiple supercells embedded within outer rain bands east of Debby's center produced at least 3 tornadoes across the area, however, associated damage remained relatively minor.

Debby's overall impacts across the western Florida peninsula resulted in 2 direct fatalities and 3 indirect fatalities, with numerous homes and additional businesses receiving damage from freshwater flash and river flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (27.8500, -81.8800)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1224073. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.