As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida’s west coast, it has already generated at least two large tornadoes, prompting a tornado watch for much of southern Florida. The storm is expected to make landfall tonight, raising concerns among residents and officials.
While tornadoes are frequently associated with hurricanes, the visibility of these tornadoes ahead of Milton is noteworthy, given that such occurrences are often observed during the event itself. Meteorologist William Gallus highlights the unusual nature of these early tornadoes, which resemble those typically seen in the Great Plains and appear particularly wide.
Two key conditions lead to tornado formation during hurricanes: atmospheric instability fueled by heat and humidity, along with wind shear—variations in wind speed and direction at different altitudes. Typically, hurricanes over water exhibit low wind shear due to minimal friction between the storm and the sea surface. However, as hurricanes make landfall, friction slows the winds at lower altitudes, ever directing them toward the hurricane’s center, creating conditions for tornado development when warmed air is sufficient.
In Hurricane Milton’s case, winds ahead of the storm have impacted the coast, generating the necessary wind shear and resulting in tornado formation.
Such tornadoes, combined with other hurricane-related hazards like storm surge and heavy rainfall, can lead to extensive destruction. Research indicates that approximately 3% of deaths related to tropical storms in the U.S. stem from tornadoes spawned by these storms, with earlier estimates suggesting that figure could be as high as 10%.
Experts note that the frequency of tornadoes during hurricanes could increase as climate change raises lower atmospheric temperatures, contributing to more unstable conditions. A recent study simulating four hurricanes—Ivan, Katrina, Rita, and Harvey—suggested that the number of tornadoes generated might rise significantly with projected warming by mid-century, with increases ranging from 56% for Harvey to a staggering 299% for Katrina.
Meteorologist Gallus warns that even a moderate increase in tornadoes could have a profound impact on communities in hurricane-prone areas.
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