A powerful tornado tore through the Orlando area, bringing chaos and destruction — and even interrupting a live weather broadcast. The storm was part of a series of severe weather events that battered parts of the Southeast, leaving a trail of damage in its wake.
In Longwood, Florida, just north of Orlando, the tornado struck a home with two people inside. Miraculously, both escaped without injuries, even though the house was completely destroyed. Several other homes in the Longwood and nearby Sanford area also suffered damage from the storm’s intense winds, which reached up to 115 mph. The tornado was classified as an EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which rates tornado strength from EF-0 to EF-6.
Meanwhile, at WOFL TV in Orlando, meteorologist Brooks Garner was on air reporting on the storm when the tornado hit the station. As the lights flickered and the studio’s outdoor camera feed briefly froze, Garner kept his composure and warned his colleagues to take cover.
“I’ve been in this business 25 years and I’ve never in my career had a tornado hit the studio,” he said, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
The devastating weather didn’t stop there. Just days earlier, storms swept through parts of the Southeast, leaving destruction in their path. In Union County, North Carolina, an EF-1 tornado with winds up to 90 mph caused structural damage and power outages, though no injuries were reported.
Tragedy struck in Mississippi, where high winds led to deadly consequences. In Madison County, one person died after being hit by a falling power line, and another driver lost their life when a tree fell on their car.
As communities begin the long process of cleaning up and rebuilding, the impact of these storms serves as a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictable power.
