An EF2 tornado touched down in Seminole County, Florida, early Monday morning, crossing over the FOX 35 News studios as severe storms rapidly moved through Central Florida. The tornado, which had peak wind speeds of 115 mph, struck at 9:36 a.m., just two minutes after the National Weather Service (NWS) of Melbourne issued a tornado warning for the area.
While the storm caused considerable damage, there were no fatalities or injuries reported, according to emergency management officials during a news conference Monday afternoon.
The Lake Mary tornado is noted as the first significant tornado in Orange and Seminole Counties in over 25 years. An EF2 tornado is defined by the NWS as one that produces considerable damage, such as tearing roofs off houses, demolishing mobile homes, overturning boxcars, and snapping or uprooting large trees. The tornado’s wind speeds were recorded between 113-157 mph, placing it within the EF2 category.
The recent tornado in Lake Mary highlights the rarity of such events in the region, with the February 22-23, 1998tornado outbreak in East-Central Florida still standing as the deadliest in state history. That outbreak left 42 people dead and more than 260 injured after seven tornadoes ripped through the region. Among them, three reached F3 intensity on the Fujita Scale, with wind speeds ranging from 158-206 mph.
That devastating outbreak caused over $100 million in damage, destroyed 700 structures, and caused significant damage to over 3,000 buildings. It remains the ninth deadliest weather-related event in Florida’s history. The 1998 eventsurpassed Florida’s previous death record of 17, set by a 1962 tornado in the Florida Panhandle.
With no injuries reported on Monday, the Seminole County event serves as a reminder of the potential danger that tornadoes present in Florida. Emergency management officials continue to monitor the aftermath and assess damage while residents are urged to stay vigilant during storm season.
