This morning, a powerful tornado made landfall in Seminole County, Florida, leaving behind a trail of significant destruction. According to reports from Local 10, the severe weather event demolished a home in Longwood and overturned a semi-truck in Lake Mary.
The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado's presence around 9:40 a.m., as it moved northeast at approximately 30 miles per hour. Preliminary assessments have categorized the tornado as an EF2, marking it as the most intense tornado to hit Seminole County since 1998.
Visual evidence reveals a house completely leveled on the 2100 block of Blue Iris in Longwood. Remarkably, two individuals inside the residence emerged without injuries.
In another shocking incident, the tornado's fierce winds lifted a semi-truck near the intersection of Lake Emma Road and Commerce Street. Fortunately, the truck driver and his dachshund companion survived without significant harm.
The tornado caused additional property damage, including downed fences and damaged roofs, but thankfully, no injuries have been reported. Notably, the tornado passed over the facilities of the local TV station Fox 35 in Lake Mary during a live broadcast, prompting a brief evacuation of the building.
Emergency teams and the Seminole County Fire Department have established a unified command center to assess the extent of the damage throughout the area and are continuing with rescue and cleanup operations.
Understanding the Seminole County Tornado
What was the intensity classification of the Seminole County tornado?
The tornado was preliminarily classified as an EF2, making it the strongest tornado in Seminole County since 1998.
Were there any injuries reported due to the tornado?
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported despite the significant damage, including the destruction of a home and the overturning of a semi-truck.
How fast was the tornado moving when it hit Seminole County?
The tornado was moving northeast at approximately 30 miles per hour when it touched down in Seminole County.