Tornado Touches Down in Osceola County During Severe Storms

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A tornado touched down in Osceola County on Monday night during severe storms, according to the National Weather Service. The tornado occurred around 7:14 p.m. near Lake Joel in St. Cloud, affecting the Pine Grove area close to Nova Road and Highway 192.

The tornado’s path was approximately two miles long and 100 yards wide. The NWS reported, ‘The brief, and likely weak, tornado developed as a result of numerous low-level boundary collisions.’ Radar indicated that the tornado moved east over a densely wooded area before lifting around 7:22 p.m. just west of Storey Bend Road.

While there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, the NWS was unable to assign an EF rating due to limited access to the affected area. The environment that allowed for tornado formation included colliding east and west coast sea breezes intersecting with cool air from thunderstorms, creating enough rotation to produce the tornado.

Demonstrating the intensity of the storm, nearly 300 lightning strikes were recorded across the Central Florida region during the evening. The NWS issued the initial tornado warning for parts of Osceola and Orange counties as rotation was detected on radar shortly after 7:20 p.m.

Tornadoes are typically rated from EF-0 to EF-5 depending on their wind speeds. However, the Enhanced Fujita rating for this tornado remains undetermined. ‘Given limited access to the affected area, the track is considered approximate, and an EF rating cannot be provided at this time,’ the NWS noted.

This incident serves as a reminder of how quickly severe weather can develop in Central Florida, especially during the storm season. Forecasters continue to monitor the conditions, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.