National Weather Service Raw Text Product

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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
1245 PM EDT Mon Oct 21 2024

...NWS Damage Survey for Osceola County Holopaw Tornado...

.Update...A survey conducted on the Escondido Ranch has confirmed 
the tornado reached EF-1 strength over rural Osceola County in the 
Deseret and Escondido Ranches. 

.Rural Eastern Osceola County Holopaw Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    100 mph
Path Length /statute/:  21.0 miles (Approximate)
Path Width /maximum/:   150 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             10/09/2024
Start Time:             03:28 PM EDT
Start Location:         Kenansville, FL
Start Lat/Lon:          27.9235 / -80.9162

End Date:               10/09/2024
End Time:               04:07 PM EDT
End Location:           Holopaw, FL
End Lat/Lon:            28.186 / -81.0607

Survey Summary:

A National Weather Service Melbourne damage survey confirms that an 
EF-1 tornado impacted portions of rural eastern Osceola County on 
Wednesday, October 9, 2024. The tornado was one of several tornadoes 
to impact the area as Hurricane Milton's outer rainbands swept 
across the east central Florida.

Based on KMLB dual-polarimetric radar, the tornado began nearly 5.5 
miles northeast of Kenansville and remained on the ground as it 
moved north over unpopulated portions of Osceola County. The tornado 
intersected portions of the Deseret and Escondido ranches where 
numerous pine and oak trees were both snapped and uprooted. 
Additionally, a well-constructed barn on the Escondido Ranch was 
destroyed. Based on radar data, the tornado likely peaked in 
intensity as it was moving through this area with peak winds of up 
to 100 mph. 

An additional report of the tornado came from a public video along 
US-192 some 5.5 miles east of Holopaw at around 3:53 PM. At this 
location, a rain-wrapped tornado can be seen crossing the highway. 
In this video, limbs were seen falling from the trees and 
lightweight debris was seen flying through the air. Based on this 
limited accounting, the tornado had likely weakened to an EF-0 with 
peak winds of 60 to 65 mph. 

Radar analysis indicates the tornado curved westward north of 
US-192 before dissipating north of Holopaw. It is possible the 
tornado occluded north of US-192 and was briefly replaced by a 
new tornado. This is highly uncertain; at this time it will be 
treated as one tornado. If additional information is received, 
this assessment will be updated accordingly. 

The National Weather Service Office in Melbourne sends its 
appreciation to the owners of the Escondido Ranch, as well as local 
broadcast media, trained spotters, and local residents for providing 
information before and during the storm survey.

&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0.....65 to 85 mph
EF1.....86 to 110 mph
EF2.....111 to 135 mph
EF3.....136 to 165 mph
EF4.....166 to 200 mph
EF5.....>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in
NWS Storm Data.


$$

Heil/Ulrich