Milton produced an exceptionally strong tornado from a tropical cyclone in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, according to a storm damage survey conducted Thursday by the National Weather Service in Miami.
The preliminary EF3 rating could increase based on additional damage found in what’s likely to be a “multi-day survey,” according to the weather service.
So far, crews have found storm damage indicative of a tornado with winds as high as 140 mph, making it an EF3.
“Considerable structural damage was observed in the Avenir community in Palm Beach Gardens. The damage was observed on brand new, well-built homes and included segments of concrete block walls missing and large sections of roof removed,” the service said.
No tropical system has produced a tornado rated stronger than EF2 (winds of 111 to 135 mph) in Florida, according to data from NOAA that dates back to 1995. While it’s possible this is a first-of-its-kind tornado for the state, it might not be alone for long.
Multiple weather service offices will conduct damage surveys in many Florida counties in the coming days after Milton prompted a record number of tornado warnings across the state.
Tornadoes spawned by landfalling tropical systems are not uncommon but they are typically weak and short-lived. The vast majority of tornadoes within landfalling tropical systems are EF0 or EF1.
Despite EF3 tornadoes being rare in tropical systems, Hurricanes Beryl, Debby, Helene and now Milton have all produced at least one EF3 tornado in the US this year.
