Florida has the highest number of annual tornadoes per 10,000 square miles. Like Texas, Oklahoma and other states in Tornado Alley, tornado-forming weather patterns are common. However, tornadoes in Florida are generally weaker than those in other tornado-prone areas and there are fewer total deaths per square mile. The highest number of total tornado-related deaths per square mile occurs in Massachusetts. Florida does not rank in the top 10 for the total number of deadly tornadoes or the total number of tornado-related deaths per 10,000 square miles. In terms of distance, tornadoes in Mississippi have the longest path, although this does not necessarily correlate directly to actual touchdown time.
The highest frequency of tornadoes usually occurs in Florida during summer. However, the deadliest season for supercell thunderstorms spawning stronger tornadoes is between February and April. One of the worst tornado outbreaks in Florida occurred in 1998 when a string of tornadoes hit Osceola, Seminole, Volusia and Brevard county. Two of these tornadoes were category F3. The tornado that stayed on the ground the longest traveled approximately 38 miles. A tornado can stay on the ground anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. The average touchdown time of tornadoes in general is 5 minutes.
At times, tornadoes do not touch the ground at all. However, the ability to predict the amount of touchdown time is not something meteorologists have been able to forecast with accuracy or consistency. Size can be a contributing factor to the time a tornado spends on the ground and includes different measurements that vary significantly in terms of width, wind speed and damage. Some of the fastest wind speeds ever recorded within a tornado were in excess of 300 mph. Tornadoes may also travel great distances while only touching the ground for one or two brief periods. In terms of physical dimensions, wider tornadoes measuring 2 or more miles in width are less common, but do not necessarily guarantee a longer period on the ground. In 2004, a tornado with a path 3,000 feet wide hit Osceola County in Florida.
Even if a tornado does not touch the ground, extreme winds can still cause severe damage. Tornadoes frequently occur together with hurricanes, but span much shorter distances and last for shorter periods of time. Precautions and weather preparedness are essential regardless of a twister's potential touchdown time.
