1997 Miami tornado

1997 Miami tornado
Looping animation of radar data depicting the tornado-spawning thunderstorm tracking across Miami
Radar imagery of the storm that spawned the tornado
Meteorological history
Formed1:53 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00)
May 12, 1997
Dissipated2:08 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00)
May 12, 1997
Duration15 minutes
F1 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Max width150 yd (140 m)
Path length8 mi (13 km)
Highest winds110 mph (175 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities0
Injuries12
Damage$525,000 (1997 USD)
Areas affectedMiami, Florida, U.S.
Power outages
21,000 people
Part of the tornadoes of 1997

On May 12, 1997, a rare and weak F1 tornado touched down in Miami, Florida. The tornado, also known as the 1997 Miami tornado, or the Great Miami tornado, was on the ground for 8 miles, causing $525,000 (1997 USD) in 15 minutes. It is remembered for media coverage of it pictured near the city's downtown skyline.

Meteorological Synopsis

Synoptics

An upper air observation at 12:00 UTC highlighted CAPE values at up to 1418 J/kg, and PWAT at 1.75 inches (44.45 mm). A Weather front was forecast to move into central Florida, and a low pressure system was forecast to go northeast into Florida’s Big Bend region. A 90 knot jet stream went across southern Florida. At the 250 mb level, winds were found to be 81 knots. By 12:00 UTC, winds had shifted south. Wind shear had weakened to a 20 - 15 knot breeze between 2,000 and 10,000 feet above the surface. As the day moved on, speed shear increased. Helicity values were found to be 131 m2/s2.

Tornado watch and warning

A tornado watch was issued by the Storm Prediction Center at 11:29 A.M. EDT, it was effective until 5:00 P.M. EDT. “Storms will continue to increase across South Florida in a very moist and unstable atmosphere. The potential for supercell tornadoes will increase during the early afternoon as the shear profile strengthens.”At 1:55 P.M. EDT, a tornado warning was issued by NWS Miami. A funnel cloud was reported, and WSR-88D indicated rotation made the NWS issue the warning.

Tornado summary

The tornado formed at 1:53 p.m. EDT, initially touching down in the Silver Bluff Estates area. The tornado crossed Interstate 95, then swept through Downtown Miami bypassing the city's skyscrapers. It crossed the MacArthur Causeway and the Venetian Causeway towards Miami Beach, sideswiping the cruise ship MS Sovereign of the Seas. The tornado lifted from the water halfway through Biscayne Bay and touched down briefly again in Collins Road, Miami Beach. It then flipped over a car and dissipated soon after.

Aftermath

The tornado ultimately caused 12 injuries and $525,000 in damage, though no injuries were serious. The tornado's passage also cut power to 21,000 people. The tornado also uprooted trees, scattered debris, and shattered the glass facades of buildings.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Storm Events Database – F1 tornado in Miami, Florida". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  2. ↑ "'Great Miami Tornado' Touched Down 25 Years Ago Today". NBC 6 South Florida. Miami, Florida: NBCUniversal Media. May 12, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Vortex – Downtown Miami F1 Tornado Report". United States NOAA, Department of Commerce. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  4. ↑ Adrian. "Miami Tornado". Adrian's Weather. Retrieved May 20, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. 1 2 Franco, Debra; White, Donna Gehrke; Lantigua, John; Markowitz, Arnold; Grander, Ishia Sneed (May 13, 1997). "Twister! Hit-and-run tornado rakes Miami, Beach". The Miami Herald. No. 164. Miami, Florida. pp. 1A, 8A. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Archives, L. A. Times (May 13, 1997). "Buildings Left Damaged by Miami Twister". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 14, 2026.