We’re at the midpoint of our severe weather blog series. In our first part we talked about the dangers of lightning. In our second part, we discussed rip currents and their perils related to the many beach goers. Today we will be focusing on thunderstorms and tornadoes. What can we say about thunderstorms that has not already been said? Let’s take a look!
Thunderstorms occur frequently across Florida, so frequently that it can be happening right now! In fact, Florida has the greatest number of thunderstorms in the United States. Florida averages over 70 thunderstorm days per year with much of the Gulf Coast (hi, that’s us!) experiencing over 80 and even 100 days a year. Sometimes a storm will have one thunderstorm cloud and sometimes one will have a family of clouds, or cells, associated with them. Storms may go on for a very long time or be as brief as a few minutes. Sudden harsh storms can flood an area within 60 seconds. We are no stranger to our thunderstorms but man can they cause a damper on the day.
One of the reasons Florida produces so many thunderstorms is that many of the components required to produce them are available every day. There are three things that must be present in the atmosphere for this to happen. For thunderstorms to form and expand, the atmosphere must be conducive. wet, unstable, and have a lift source Since Florida is a state, surrounded by water, including numerous interior lakes and rivers with marshes, there are plenty of water vapor sources to feed thunderstorms.
When the weather conditions for thunderstorms are right, the atmosphere is described as “unstable” by meteorologists. Because Florida receives a lot of sunlight, the air near the ground warms up and becomes unstable. An updraft occurs in all thunderstorms, in which air rises swiftly to 7 to 10 miles above the ground. This causes the moisture in the air to condense into liquid water or ice, generating showers and the big, towering clouds we know as “thunderstorm clouds.” These clouds, on the other hand, cannot grow on their own. In order for an unstable atmosphere to produce the updrafts required for violent thunderstorms, the updraft must be given a boost. These boosts are referred to as “lift” by meteorologists. An incoming frontal system or a building sea breeze boundary during a warm afternoon can both provide lift, and Florida is no exception.
With thunderstorms come tornadoes. Tornadoes and Florida aren’t usually linked, but the state ranks 5th in the country for the annual average number of tornadoes and ties for 6th in tornado fatalities, with an average of 4 per year. When it comes to the annual number of tornadoes per square mile, Florida is tied for second place with Kansas.
A tornado is a violent column of rotating air that descends from the sky and hits the ground.
Tornadoes in Florida come in all shapes and sizes and can strike at any time of year. Tornadoes are rarely more than 15 minutes long, but they can cause significant damage as they move across the ground. Tornadoes can travel hundreds of miles, while others may appear to skip above the ground for a brief period of time. When these two items combine, they form waterspouts!
The “waterspout capital of the world” is popularly referred to as the Florida Keys. Each year, more than 400 waterspouts are expected to occur along the Florida Keys alone, with hundreds more reported over the rest of the Florida coast.
Because most tornadoes are short-lived, it’s difficult to give advance warning, but the National Weather Service uses special tools and volunteers are needed to keep an eye out for tornadoes. The National Weather Service (NWS) is a government service which provides warnings and alerts to everyone in danger of severe weather. A tornado warning will be issued by the service. When a tornado is either seen or heard, a tornado warning is issued.
Doppler radar or a severe weather spotter can both be used to predict severe weather. In comparison, the average lead time (the amount of time between when a warning is issued and when it is finally implemented) a tornado can touchdown takes 10-20 minutes on average, but it can take as little as a few minutes in some cases. With this information in mind, a few minutes of warning can make a difference.
While many people have seen thunderstorms and tornadoes in Florida, it may be easy to overlook. Always remember to be prepared and always be aware. We love to help those who may not know about these kinds of things, which is why we have been continuing this severe weather series!
We are here to help answer any questions you may have when it comes to all things insurance and weather! Drop us a line at service@harrisinsurance.com or call us at 850.244.2111
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
Views expressed here do not constitute legal advice. The information contained herein is for general guidance of matter only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Discussion of insurance policy language is descriptive only. Every policy has different policy language. Coverage afforded under any insurance policy issued is subject to individual policy terms and conditions. Please refer to your policy for the actual language.
