logo
‘I never experienced something like this': Tornado cleanup underway in Seminole County

‘I never experienced something like this': Tornado cleanup underway in Seminole County

Yahoo11-03-2025

Crews will be back out across Seminole County on Tuesday to assess damage after a powerful EF2 tornado touched down in parts of Lake Mary and Longwood on Monday.
The winds were strong enough to rip through houses, brick walls, and fences.
'I lived through many hurricanes ... I never experienced something like this,' one resident of the Whispering Winds subdivision in Longwood told Eyewitness News.
The winds peaked at 115 miles per hour, and the few minutes that the system traveled on or near the ground was enough to destroy a home near Markham Woods Road.
'It was wham, bam!, Longwood resident Dan Hunnel said. 'It hit up there and it bounced, and it hit over here and bounced, and hit here and bounced, and moved on down the road,' Hunnel motioned to explain the twister's path.
From above, Drone 9 showed the devastating images of the neighborhood.
Scattered about the ground were Christmas decorations, furniture, a checkbook and other personal items like pictures. 'My daughter lives here, her home was destroyed. She's devastated,' a neighbor in tears told Channel 9′s Geovany Dias.
According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes in general are not uncommon in Central Florida. However, a tornado this strong was unusual.
'An EF2 this time of year is considered a rare Florida tornado. In total, generally speaking, 90% of all tornadoes that the State of Florida sees are EF 0 or EF1 tornadoes which are still potentially damaging,' National Weather Service meteorologist William Ulrich said.
'To see winds of up to 115 miles per hour or greater is a rare phenomenon for us in Central Florida,' he added.
The Seminole County Emergency Management team has been fanning out across the area since the storm hit, ensuring the community has the resources it needs to rebuild.
Officials are also reminding residents about the value of potentially life-saving tools.
'That's the importance of quick alerts, having a weather radio, having some type of system where you can get a weather warning, and going into that safe location, Emergency Manager Alan Harris said.
To activate your alert service from Seminole County, go to AlertSeminole.org, or simply text SEMINOLE to 888-777.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NWS issues overnight flash flood warnings in multiple counties
NWS issues overnight flash flood warnings in multiple counties

Yahoo

time5 hours ago

  • Yahoo

NWS issues overnight flash flood warnings in multiple counties

(WBRE/WYOU) — The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Flash Flood Warning that lasts into the early hours of Tuesday morning for part of Pennsylvania. The NWS has issued a Flash Flood Warning for the following counties until 2:00 a.m. Tuesday: Union County Snyder County Shortly before 11:00 p.m. Monday night, the NWS said Doppler Radar indicated thunderstorms that were capable of producing heavy rainfall could impact the affected areas. Weather Alert: Flood watch in effect for majority of NEPA The NWS encourages drivers to turn around when encountering flooded roads. Authorities also advise residents to be especially cautious at night when it's more difficult to recognize the dangers of flooding. To stay up to date on the latest weather alerts, use the Eyewitness Interactive Radar. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Storms to pose burn-scar flooding threats in New Mexico ahead of weekend heat
Storms to pose burn-scar flooding threats in New Mexico ahead of weekend heat

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Storms to pose burn-scar flooding threats in New Mexico ahead of weekend heat

Storms are expected pass over New Mexico's burn scars through Tuesday, posing threats of flooding ahead of an anticipated rise to high temperatures during the weekend. The National Weather Service on Monday issued a flood watch for Tuesday morning through the evening in areas within and downstream of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire burn scar in Northern New Mexico and in the Ruidoso area in the south-central part of the state, which was affected by last year's South Fork and Salt fires. Storms may bring flash flooding in areas scorched by blazes in recent years. The risk is low in other parts of the state, including in urban areas, according to a weekly weather briefing from the National Weather Service's Albuquerque office. drought map Drought levels throughout the state The Ruidoso burn scar area is a primary concern Tuesday, meteorologist Nico Porcelli said. Burn scars present a higher risk of flooding because fires diminish vegetation, and ash and soot cause water to run off soil, making it become hydrophobic, he added. 'Small amounts of rain can cause large amounts of water to really be funneled through the rivers and creeks and cause flooding concerns,' Porcelli said. Tuesday will bring a 52% chance of rain in Santa Fe, but a marginal risk — 5% to 15% — of excessive rain leading to flash flooding. Tuesday's storms follow Monday afternoon's storms along the central mountain chain, Porcelli said. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued severe thunderstorm warnings Monday for parts of Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Lincoln, Socorro, Torrance and Union counties. The agency also issued a flash flood warning Monday for the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire burn scar, which already had seen 1 to 1½ inches of rain by around 4 p.m. Monday, according to Porcelli. 'Usually when we get these kind of rainfall amounts, we get some flash flooding, especially over low-water crossings,' he said. Storms may continue in Eastern New Mexico on Wednesday and Thursday, but the risk of strong to severe storms will be lower, as will the risk of burn-scar flooding. However, Thursday marks the beginning of increased temperatures statewide that could bring heat-related risk through the weekend, particularly in Albuquerque and communities in Southern New Mexico. The weekend will see near- and above-average temperatures, with highs Sunday of 99 and 94 degrees in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, respectively, according to the briefing. In Socorro, Sunday's maximum temperature will be 104 — 13 degrees hotter than Socorro's historical average high in June. 'Not much of a heat concern yet, but it's getting up there,' Porcelli said. 'We're getting into that hottest time of the year, which is usually in late June.'

Storms to pose burn-scar flooding threats in New Mexico ahead of weekend heat
Storms to pose burn-scar flooding threats in New Mexico ahead of weekend heat

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Storms to pose burn-scar flooding threats in New Mexico ahead of weekend heat

Storms are expected pass over New Mexico's burn scars through Tuesday, posing threats of flooding ahead of an anticipated rise to high temperatures during the weekend. The National Weather Service on Monday issued a flood watch for Tuesday morning through the evening in areas within and downstream of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire burn scar in Northern New Mexico and in the Ruidoso area in the south-central part of the state, which was affected by last year's South Fork and Salt fires. Storms may bring flash flooding in areas scorched by blazes in recent years. The risk is low in other parts of the state, including in urban areas, according to a weekly weather briefing from the National Weather Service's Albuquerque office. drought map Drought levels throughout the state The Ruidoso burn scar area is a primary concern Tuesday, meteorologist Nico Porcelli said. Burn scars present a higher risk of flooding because fires diminish vegetation, and ash and soot cause water to run off soil, making it become hydrophobic, he added. 'Small amounts of rain can cause large amounts of water to really be funneled through the rivers and creeks and cause flooding concerns,' Porcelli said. Tuesday will bring a 52% chance of rain in Santa Fe, but a marginal risk — 5% to 15% — of excessive rain leading to flash flooding. Tuesday's storms follow Monday afternoon's storms along the central mountain chain, Porcelli said. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued severe thunderstorm warnings Monday for parts of Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Lincoln, Socorro, Torrance and Union counties. The agency also issued a flash flood warning Monday for the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire burn scar, which already had seen 1 to 1½ inches of rain by around 4 p.m. Monday, according to Porcelli. 'Usually when we get these kind of rainfall amounts, we get some flash flooding, especially over low-water crossings,' he said. Storms may continue in Eastern New Mexico on Wednesday and Thursday, but the risk of strong to severe storms will be lower, as will the risk of burn-scar flooding. However, Thursday marks the beginning of increased temperatures statewide that could bring heat-related risk through the weekend, particularly in Albuquerque and communities in Southern New Mexico. The weekend will see near- and above-average temperatures, with highs Sunday of 99 and 94 degrees in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, respectively, according to the briefing. In Socorro, Sunday's maximum temperature will be 104 — 13 degrees hotter than Socorro's historical average high in June. 'Not much of a heat concern yet, but it's getting up there,' Porcelli said. 'We're getting into that hottest time of the year, which is usually in late June.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store