Tornado Strikes Florida TV Station During Live Broadcast

A tornado struck WOFL-TV near Orlando, Florida, on Monday while meteorologist Brooks Garner was delivering a live weather broadcast. As the storm approached, Garner quickly urged everyone in the building to take cover, staying on air even as power flickered and debris hit the roof. The National Weather Service (NWS) later confirmed that the tornado was primarily an EF1, with a small area reaching EF2 strength and peak winds of 115 mph.

The storm damaged multiple homes, including one that collapsed while people were inside, though no injuries were reported. The tornado also impacted the nearby community of Longwood, and the NWS planned to conduct a survey to assess its track and intensity. The severe weather was part of a larger system moving through the Southeast, creating conditions for isolated tornadoes and damaging winds in central Florida.

Florida averages 46 tornadoes per year, with last year’s Hurricane Milton setting a record by spawning 46 tornadoes in just two days. The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of severe weather in the region.