NWS Confirms: Lakeland Airport Hit By Tornado

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Key Takeaways:

  • The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado with estimated 95 mph winds hit Lakeland airport on Thursday around noon.
  • The tornado had a path length of just over a half mile and a width of 30 to 40 yards, impacting the west end of the runway.
  • The NWS report also identified the impact of 70 to 75 mph "downburst thunderstorm severe straight-line winds" in the area.
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The National Weather Service confirmed in a report released on Friday that a category EF-1 tornado hit the Lakeland airport on Thursday about noon time. The tornado had top winds estimated at 95 mph, a path length of just over a half mile, and a path width of about 30 to 40 yards. The NWS report also confirmed the impact of 70 to 75 mph “downburst thunderstorm severe straight-line winds,” with the tornado impacting the west end of the runway about 12:05 p.m. The full NWS report is available online (PDF).

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