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F1 tornado in Miami-dade County, Florida

Tornado January 3, 1996 · Miami-dade County, Florida

F1
Rating
7.0 mi
Path length
40 yd
Path width
9
Injuries
$1.2M
Damage as recorded
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated

The path drawn at its surveyed width of 40 yards (0.02 mi) — zoom in and the swath grows to true scale. Other tornadoes recorded nearby that day are shown faint.

What F1 means. This tornado was rated on Fujita’s original scale, used until 2007. F1 meant moderate damage: roofs badly stripped, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, windows broken; the scale paired it with winds of 73–112 mph, figures later judged too high, especially toward the top of the scale, and revised downward in the Enhanced Fujita scale. Ratings then, as now, came from the damage.

The wider storm

A squall line from the Gulf of Mexico moved inland across the south Florida Peninsula. A bow echo developed along the squall line as it approached the western suburbs of Miami, and a tornado formed in conjuction with the bow echo. The tornado first touched down near S.W. 96 Street and 144 Avenue, knocking down a small tree. The tornado's path was intermittent for the first three and one-half miles then became continuous from S.W. 67 Street and 123 Avenue to where it lifted, on the north side of S.W. 24 Street and 93 Court. From its initial touchdown until it crossed Westwood Lake, intensity was rated as F0, with minor roof damage and downed trees and fences. Near S.W. 42 Street and 108 Avenue, the tornado intensified to a strong category F1, with wind gusts estimated around 110 mph, and it maintained this intensity until lifting. Throughout its lifetime, the tornado moved on a northeast track at a forward speed of 35 mph. Along the F1 portion of the track, nine persons were injured, three requiring hospitalization. Two of the more serious injuries occurred when the victim's cars were rolled. Major damage occurred to 26 buildings, mostly residences, but two churches, a lumber yard and a strip shopping center also sustained damaged. Another 50 buildings sustained minor damage. Six vehicles were overturned or blown several yards. Power lines were blown down leaving 20,000 users without electricity for up to 12 hours.

Began near (mia)miami Intl (25.6800, -80.4200).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 5536210. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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