- No discernible threat to life and property; the probability of tornadoes is less than 2%.
Minimum Action - Listen for forecast changes; review tornado safety rules.
Potential Impact - None expected; strong wind gusts may still occur.
||Threat - An elevated threat to life and property; and a 2 to 14% probability of tornadoes.
Minimum Action - Prepare for the likelihood of isolated to scattered tornadoes of EF-0 to EF-1 intensity.
Potential Impact - If a tornado strikes: minor damage may occur in older mobile home parks. Newly planted trees and shrubs may be uprooted if not secured properly. Some small twigs will separate from trees. Unfastened items such as garbage cans and deck furniture will blow around or tip over.
- A significant threat to life and property; and a 15 to 29% probability of tornadoes.
Minimum Action - Prepare for the likelihood of scattered tornadoes of EF-0 to EF-1 intensity. However, the likelihood of an isolated EF-2 tornado increases.
Potential Impact - If a tornado strikes: minor to moderate damage will occur to many mobile homes. Older trailers may be destroyed. Poorly constructed single family homes may receive some wall damage and partial roof removal. Others will have notable damage to roof shingles and siding. Unsecured light weight items may become projectiles, causing additional damage. Electrical wires will be blown down, and local power outages are likely.
Numerous large limbs will be blown down. Weaker trees, such as pines, may snap. Some live oaks will be uprooted. Newly planted trees and shrubs could be damaged or uprooted. Rotting trees will be uprooted, and many palm fronds will blow off exposed trees.
- A critical threat to life and property; and a 30 to 44% probability of tornadoes.
Minimum Action - Prepare for the likelihood of scattered tornadoes up to EF-2 intensity, with isolated tornadoes of EF-3 intensity.
Potential Impact - If a tornado strikes: Mobile homes will be pushed off foundations or rolled; older trailers will be demolished. Roofs may be torn off homes of average construction; well built homes will sustain moderate shingle and siding damage, as well as damaged lanai screens and pool cages. Partial roof failure is expected in industrial parks...especially to those buildings with light weight steel and aluminum coverings. Older low-rising apartment roofs may also be torn off. Some windows in high rise office buildings will be blown out. Airborne debris will cause damage, as well as possible injury and fatalities.
Power outages will be widespread, with most wires down and dozens of telephone poles pulled down. Moving vehicles may be blown off highways; rail cars may be overturned.
Numerous large trees will be blown down or snapped; live oak trees in open areas will be largely uprooted. All rotting trees will likely be snapped or uprooted. Hundreds of palm fronds will be blown down...and minor to moderate damage will occur to citrus orchards and newly planted lowland crops. Long track tornadoes are possible.
An extreme threat to life and property; and a 45% probability (or greater) of tornadoes.
Minimum Action - Prepare for the likelihood of numerous tornadoes up to EF-1 intensity, even in clusters, with scattered tornadoes of EF-2 to EF-5 intensity.
Potential Impact - If a tornado strikes: Persons not in a sturdy building are at great risk for injury or death! All mobile homes will be destroyed; many blown away completely. Well constructed homes will have substantial damage to roofs and walls. Destruction may occur to homes with gabled roofs, where the roof will be lifted off by the winds.
Even concrete block homes are at risk should windows blow out. More than half of all industrial buildings will be destroyed; others will have partial roof and wall damage. Wood framed garden apartment buildings will be severely damaged or destroyed. Airborne debris, with some pieces greater than 50 pounds, will cause extensive damage. Electricity and water will be unavailable for days, and perhaps weeks, after the storm passes.
All trees will be snapped and uprooted. Citrus crops will be destroyed as will all newly planted ground crops. Established ground crops will have damage, with up to one half of the fields no longer arable. Livestock will be critically injured or killed. Long-track tornadoes are likely.
Note: In all tropical cyclone situations, listen for possible tornado watches; take cover immediately if a tornado warning is issued for your area.
EF-0 Tornadoes - Weaker tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale causing minor damage. Damage to chimneys, porches, screen houses, and lighter-weight outbuildings; a few downed trees and power lines; large signs blown over. Tornado wind speeds of 65 to 85 mph.
EF-1 Tornadoes - Moderate tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale causing moderate damage. Mobile homes moved off foundations or overturned; roof surfaces peeled off buildings; cars blown off roads; several large trees downed and some power outages. Tornado wind speeds of 86 to 110 mph.
EF-2 to EF-5 Tornadoes - Strong to violent tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale causing major damage (up to complete destruction). Mobile homes completely demolished; numerous large trees snapped off, totally uprooted, or debarked; small debris objects (lawn mowers, smaller sections of roofs) become airborne missiles. Significant power outages occur over larger areas. Structural damage to sturdy buildings, especially roof and wall failures. In the worst situations, well-constructed walls fail or are even removed; large debris objects (cars, larger sections of roofs) become airborne missiles causing further structural failures. Tornado wind speeds 111 mph or greater; in the worst situations 200 mph or greater.