NWS Confirms: Lakeland Airport Hit By Tornado

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).