 Three simultaneous tornado circulations on NEXRAD radar imagery, the northern two of which would produce significant tornadoes in downtown Tallahassee | |
| EF2 tornado | |
|---|---|
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Highest winds | 115 mph (185 km/h) |
| EF2 tornado | |
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Highest winds | 115 mph (185 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 1 indirect |
| Areas affected | Leon County, Florida |
Part of the tornadoes of 2021 | |
On the morning of May 10, 2024, two significant tornadoes moved through Leon County, Florida, including two through Tallahassee, costing the city upwards of $50 million (2024 USD). The storm system caused two deaths, and came at the end of an outbreak across much of the rest of the nation.[1]
Meteorological synopsis
editThe Storm Prediction Center issued an Enhanced risk (3/5) for severe weather on May 10 for parts of northeastern Florida and southern Georgia. A strong upper-level trough over the Eastern United States produced a shortwave trough that would move from the lower Mississippi Valley towards the southeastern United States. Outflow from convection that spawned severe weather the previous few days would form a cold front that would move south through parts of Texas and the Southeast. These factors, in addition to favorable moisture and aloft westerly flow in the vicinity of the Florida panhandle, was expected to form a mesoscale convective system in the early morning hours. Severe weather over the rest of the Southeast, including the Carolinas, was expected to occur later in the day following the system moving offshore. Tallahassee was included in a Slight risk (2/5) area.[2]
At 2:12 a.m. EDT, the Storm Prediction Center issued a mesoscale discussion over parts of the Southeast, which discussed the formation of a well-developed mesoscale convective system from south-central Alabama to southwestern Mississippi, which existed on the northern edge of an unstable airmass over the central Gulf Coast region. MLCAPE values of 2,500–3,500j/kg, as estimated by the RAP forecast model, in addition to observed 0–6km shear near 50 knots and 0–3km storm-relative helicity values of 200–250 m2/s2 would be favorable for the development of supercells and bowing line segments. These conditions would allow for an isolated tornado threat to develop along or ahead of the line, in addition to the threat of isolated severe wind gusts.[3]
At 405 a.m., a severe thunderstorm watch was issued over the Florida panhandle and southern Georgia. Multiple squall lines with bowing segments had developed and were expected to continue tracking south-southeastward, with the primary threat being damaging wind gusts up to 80 mph (130 km/h), with risks for isolated large hail and tornadoes also outlined.[4]
Tornado summaries
editFirst tornado
editThe first tornado that would impact Tallahassee touched down in Gadsden County, Florida at 5:36 a.m. and tracked southeastward over forested areas, damaging a barn and causing tree damage,[5] before entering Leon County. Here, a mobile home park suffered extensive tree damage and several home sustained damage from falling trees at Emily Loop, before the tornado crossed U.S. 90, where it caused damage to a shopping center and a hotel at the intersection of Capital Circle Northwest and U.S. 90. After crossing Capital Circle, the tornado approached Blountstown Highway while intensifying to EF2 strength. An automotive repair building on the highway suffered EF2 damage, while 75 ft (23 m) above the ground, a swath of tree damage with nearly all pine trees snapped at a similar height was surveyed, an area of damage that would extend across Pat Thomas Boulevard.[6]
Educational institutions and Railroad Square
editThe tornado then approached the campuses of Lively Technical College and Tallahassee Community College.[6] Impact at the latter included 400 trees downed on campus, numerous campus buildings sustaining damage, two Tallahassee Community College-owned trucks being declared a complete loss, and an electrical substation that provided energy to the site being destroyed.[7] The next area to be impacted was a high-density residential area, where widespread EF1 damage occurred.[6]
The tornado next struck the Tallahassee campus of Florida State University, which was between semesters and as such had very little on-site students and staff. Power to the campus was cut. Areas near the University Center and Dick Howser Stadium sustained damage.[8] A tent for FSU Flying High Circus was destroyed.[6]
Over Gaines street, the tornado damaged multiple businesses, and a construction crane collapsed. At Railroad Square, multiple warehouses suffered severe damage.[6] Damage was compared to that of Hurricane Andrew in Miami, with one art gallery being entirely destroyed. Multiple buildings in the vicinity of the art district lost their roofs.[9] In addition, the roof of a railway depot suffered severe damage.[6]
Downtown Tallahassee and dissipation
editSouth of the Florida State Capitol in downtown Tallahassee near the Florida Department of Education building, the tornado continued to damage trees, while also turning southward as it began to interact with the second tornado to the south of it. Further damage occurred to Myers and Cascades park before the tornado passed through Country Club Estates and the Capital City Country Club before its damage path converged with the southern tornado.[6]
Second tornado
editThis tornado touched down at 5:50 a.m. at William's Landing in Lake Talquin State Park, initially travelling east-southeast while doing EF1 damage to trees before crossing the intersection of Blountstown highway and Ft. Braden Trail Road, where it assumed a bearing of due east. Further damage occurred at Lake Talquin State Recreational Area, where further tree damage occurred. The tornado then entered Tallahassee proper and struck the neighborhoods of Seminole Manor and Mabry Manor, before approaching Florida A&M University where more tree damage occurred and roof damage to at least two of the institution's buildings occurred. Widespread EF0 shingle damage occurred to homes and businesses along this part of the track.
Second tornado that moved through southern Downtown Tallahassee.[10]
Aftermath
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ https://apnews.com/article/tallahassee-tornadoes-fema-aid-cleanup-50d9602ef45098ae1a15b4266642c79e temporary
- ^ "May 10, 2024 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". Storm Prediction Center. May 10, 2024.
- ^ "2024 Mesoscale Discussion 744". Storm Prediction Center. May 10, 2024.
- ^ "Severe Thunderstorm Watch 229". Storm Prediction Center. May 10, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ "Storm Events Database (TAE survey SAWDUST, 2024-05-10 05:36 EST-5)". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Storm Events Database (TAE survey ANDREW, 2024-05-10 05:54 EST-5)". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
- ^ Jean, Tarah (May 21, 2024). "Hundreds of downed trees are among TCC's 'significant' damages from recent tornado". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "DRONE VIDEO: See storm damage at Florida State University from the air". WXTL-TV. May 11, 2024.
- ^ Goñi-Lessan, Ana (May 11, 2024). "Tallahassee's Railroad Square hit hard by possible tornado. See the damage from above".
- ^ "Storm Events Database (TAE survey FORT BRADEN, 2024-05-10 05:50 EST-5)". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved January 27, 2025.