F2 Tornado — Miami-dade, Florida

1998-02-02 · near (mia)miami Intl, Miami-dade, Florida

Event narrative

At 2022 est f1-f2 tornado touched down nw 36th st/curtis parkway damaging about 12 planes at mia international airport. The mia asos recorded a gust of 90 knots. The f2 tornado crossed through virginia gardens and south miami springs in a 100-200 yard path damaging many buildings and hurling a 2 by 4 board through an apartment door. Showing f1 intensity the tornado continued through miami springs uprooting trees and damaging roof tops. At 2027 est the tornado intensified to f2 into south hialeah severly damaging structures. the tornado weakened to f1 near hialeah race track and the path widened to one to three miles...with indications of three or four individual tornadoes of f1 intensity moving in tandem to the north.. at 2031 est the main tornado reintensified to f2 status as it approached opa locka airport severly damaging the roof of the ups facility then damaging or destroying 140 aircraft and a hangar at the airport blowing some debris nearly a half mile. The tornadoes weakened to f1 status as they moved through carol city damaging homes and utility poles.

Wider weather episode

...a developing low pressure over the north gulf of mexico resulted in a tightening pressure gradient over south florida and adjacent waters. Southeast winds sustained at gale force with higher gusts occurred through most of 02/02/98. A pre-frontal trough of low pressure developed over the southeastern gulf of mexico early 02/02/98. This resulted in a highly unstable airmass which was lifted by strong mid and upper level jets by late afternoon. Tornado and severe thunderstorm producing storms moved through the florida keys between 1530And 1930 est. The thunderstorms moved over south florida between 1930 and 2130 est. The culmination of gail force winds...several severe thunderstorms and two tornadoes resulted in widespread damage in the florida keys. Trees...power lines and light poles were down most locations south of key largo. Some minor coastal flooding occurred. Boats were capsized and docks were damaged. A support buoy for an underwater lab was dislodged and drifted ashore. Fema reported one house completely destroyed and 23 homes damaged. Several businesses were damaged. Extensive damage occurred to the fishing industry primarilly loss of lobster traps.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (25.8000, -80.2800)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5634213. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.