Meteorologists issued warnings to residents to seek shelter on Monday following a tornado that struck Sanford, Florida, close to a television station. The National Weather Service in Melbourne issued alerts for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in various Florida counties, including Sanford, Deltona, and DeBary. The tornado was confirmed to have touched down, prompting urgent calls for Sanford residents to take cover. The tornado was observed moving across Interstate 4, just north of Orlando, from Lake Mary into Sanford. News reporters from FOX 35 Orlando mentioned feeling the impact of the tornado on their building. Meteorologist Brooks Garner from FOX 35 Orlando described it as a rare event, stating that they were able to confirm the tornado’s impact on their station. The tornado’s intensity was estimated using the Enhanced Fujita scale, with meteorologist Noah Bergren suggesting it was likely an EF0 or possibly a brief EF1. Although trees were knocked down and one home collapsed, no injuries were reported. Damage was also noted in Lake Mary as the storm passed through the region. The weather service cautioned that a cold front moving across central Florida could bring additional severe weather, including rain, lightning, damaging wind gusts, large hail, and the potential for more tornadoes. Wind speeds were expected to reach 35 miles per hour, with a wind advisory remaining in effect until the evening.
