EF0 Tornado — Monroe, Florida

2018-04-15 · near Tavernier, Monroe, Florida

Event narrative

A second path, likely a continuation as the waterspout made landfall

near Lincoln Avenue on the far southwest portion of Tavernier's

oceanside. Progressive narrowing of the damage path down to nearly

30 yards as well as a turn toward the northwest or north-northwest

was observed. Impacts lessened from near the waterfront, including

damaged fences and large limbs,gradually down to smaller limbs and

twigs was noted. No further impacts were observed northeast of Lowe

Street. It is likely the wind speeds 55 to 65 mph were observed,

weakening to below 50 mph roughly 3 blocks from the waterfront.

Wider weather episode

A fast-moving pre-frontal squall line passing through the upper Florida Keys developed an embedded supercell thunderstorm with attendant mesocyclone along the Florida Bay side of Upper Matecumbe Key. The supercell thunderstorm moved east-northeast, producing a waterspout which made landfall on the bayside of Plantation Key, Islamorada. The tornado crossed the Overseas Highway, exiting oceanside just southwest of Tavernier Creek. The waterspout then made a second landfall oceanside in Tavernier southeast of Tavernier Creek before dissipating.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (25.0021, -80.5197)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 754402. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.