An EF3 tornado hit Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on Wednesday, marking the strongest tornado from a tropical system in the state in over 50 years. This information was gathered from a review of NOAA data.
The last time Florida experienced tornadoes as strong as this was in June 1972, during Hurricane Agnes, when two F3 tornadoes caused significant damage. These tornadoes had wind speeds ranging from 158 to 206 mph, equivalent to an EF3 or stronger tornado on the current Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which replaced the older Fujita scale in 2007.
Following the recent tornado, the National Weather Service will conduct damage surveys to assess the extent of the destruction. While some tropical systems may produce strong tornadoes, the majority are typically short-lived and weaker in intensity.
Statistics from the Storm Prediction Center reveal that over 93% of the 1,700+ tornadoes generated by tropical systems between 1995 and 2023 were classified as EF0 or EF1. Only five EF3 or equivalent tornadoes were recorded from tropical systems in the US during this period.
However, this year has seen an increase in the occurrence of strong tornadoes associated with hurricanes. Hurricanes Beryl, Debby, Helene, and Milton have all spawned at least one EF3 tornado in the US. Notably, there hasn't been an EF4 or EF5-equivalent tornado from a tropical system in the US for many years.
Historically, some of the most powerful tropical tornadoes date back to the 1960s. Hurricane Carla produced an F4 tornado, equivalent to an EF5 tornado today, in Texas in 1961. Similarly, Hurricane Hilda generated an F4 tornado in Louisiana in 1964.
