# 2012 Tropical Storm Debby tornado outbreak

From June 23 to 26, 2012, Tropical Storm Debby produced a significant tornado outbreak across the Florida Peninsula. Throughout the entire event, 25 tornadoes touched down across the state, making the outbreak the second largest on record in Florida, behind only that spawned by Hurricane Agnes, which produced 28 tornadoes from June 18 to 19, 1972. At least ten of the tornadoes—the largest 24-hour total in South Florida since Hurricane Isbell produced eight in 1964—had been confirmed in four South Florida counties by the National Weather Service forecast office in Miami.

## Meteorological synopsis

On June 19, 2012, an area of low pressure formed over the Yucatán Peninsula and slowly moved north-northeast. Concurrently, a tropical wave approached from the east and merged with the low on June 22 which led to the formation of a trough across the southern Gulf of Mexico. Over the next day the system became increasingly organized and developed into Tropical Storm Debby around 8:00 a.m. EDT (UTC−04:00) on June 23. A prominent convergence band developed east of the circulation center and posed a minimal risk of tornadic activity over the Florida Keys and southwestern Florida Peninsula. Ample low-level moisture and air temperatures above 80 °F (27 °C) created Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) of 2,000 J/kg. The first tornadoes occurred more than 40 hours before landfall and were in the city limits of Naples within Collier County at 3:35 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. EDT; both were rated EF0. This was atypical to the majority of tropical cyclone tornado events in which the bulk of activity occurs within hours of landfall and after. By 4:44 EDT, weak thunderstorm cells were noted over Collier and Monroe Counties; however, they were not considered as significant as normal tropical cyclone-produced supercells. Activity in the nighttime hours shifted to potential waterspouts moving onshore in southwestern counties. Conditions became more conducive for tornadic activity by the late-morning hours of June 24 as Debby's broad circulation meandered generally northeast. Storm-relative helicity reached 250–300 m$^2$/s$^2$, indicating potential for tornadoes. Accordingly, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a tornado watch for western Florida at 11:45 a.m. EDT.
By the afternoon of June 24, the focal point of discrete and/or rotating cells extended from the Tampa Bay area southeast to the Miami metropolitan area along a baroclinic zone. However, the eastern cells were inhibited by a more stable airmass. Along the western side, instability was enhanced by the entrainment of dry mid-level air into areas with MLCAPE of 1,000 J/kg. Bulk shear also exceeded 35 mph (56 km/h), values supportive of tornadic storms. Analysis of surface winds by the SPC at 7:01 p.m. EDT showed a 60 mph (97 km/h) low-level jet and increasing helicity values of 300–500 m$^2$/s$^2$. Successive mini supercells moving from the Gulf into western Florida were possible. By 9:16 p.m. EDT, the convergence band organized into a linear squall line and propagated east, emerging over the far western Atlantic Ocean near 12:00 a.m. EDT on June 25. Behind the squall, the overall environment became more stable and less conducive to tornadic activity. Around this time, Debby's center stalled out south of the Florida Panhandle. In the pre-dawn hours of June 25, a new band of thunderstorms developed over central Florida and a new tornado watch was issued at 4:40 a.m. EDT. Poorly modeled dry air entrainment and subsidence ultimately suppressed formation of tornadic storms throughout the day. Only one tornado touched down in Highlands County at 10:25 a.m. EDT on June 26, marking the end of the outbreak.
Throughout the nearly three-day outbreak, 25 tornadoes were confirmed across Florida of which only one exceeded EF1 intensity. As is the case for all tropical cyclone tornado events, an unknown number of tornadoes likely went undocumented over open waters. The most active phase of the outbreak occurred from 10:00 a.m. on June 24 to 12:00 a.m. EDT on June 25 with 22 tornadoes. Nineteen tornadoes formed within the right-front quadrant of Tropical Storm Debby—relative to the storm's motion—while the remainder formed in the right-back quadrant.

## Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating :
| EFU | EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | Total |
| 0 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
List of confirmed tornadoes produced by Tropical Storm Debby in 2012 :
| EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Date | Time (UTC) | Path length | Maximum width |
| EF0 | ESE of East Naples | Collier | Florida | 26°06′36″N 81°44′49″W﻿ / ﻿26.11°N 81.747°W﻿ / 26.11; -81.747﻿ (East Naples (June 23, EF0)) | June 23 | 19:35–19:37 | 1.7 mi (2.7 km) | 20 yd (18 m) |
| A waterspout was observed moving inland from the Isles of Capri. Damage occurred along an intermittent path with small trees uprooted, a palm tree snapped, heavy damage to a lanai, and snapped tree branches, one of which struck a car. ||||||||
| EF0 | ENE of Naples Park | Collier | Florida | 26°16′26″N 81°47′20″W﻿ / ﻿26.274°N 81.789°W﻿ / 26.274; -81.789﻿ (Naples Park (June 23, EF0)) | June 23 | 20:00 | 0.05 mi (0.080 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) |
| An extremely brief tornado snapped tree branches at the North Collier Hospital, one of which struck and injured a person. ||||||||
| EF0 | S of Zolfo Springs to WSW of Bowling Green | Hardee | Florida | 27°24′N 81°47′W﻿ / ﻿27.4°N 81.78°W﻿ / 27.4; -81.78﻿ (Zolfo Springs (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 14:15–14:30 | 17.03 mi (27.41 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| A long-tracked tornado moved through predominantly rural areas, causing damage to orange groves, a barn, and a tractor. ||||||||
| EF0 | Muse | Glades | Florida | 26°50′N 81°31′W﻿ / ﻿26.84°N 81.52°W﻿ / 26.84; -81.52﻿ (Muse (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 15:00 | 0.01 mi (0.016 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) |
| A brief tornado damaged the roof of a barn. ||||||||
| EF0 | S of Goodland to N of Royal Palm | Collier | Florida | 25°45′43″N 81°38′28″W﻿ / ﻿25.762°N 81.641°W﻿ / 25.762; -81.641﻿ (Goodland (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 15:10–15:40 | 16.2 mi (26.1 km) | 30 yd (27 m) |
| A waterspout originated over Gullivan Bay and moved across the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Damage was confined to trees in unpopulated areas. ||||||||
| EF0 | E of Golden Gate | Collier | Florida | 26°09′43″N 81°32′31″W﻿ / ﻿26.162°N 81.542°W﻿ / 26.162; -81.542﻿ (Golden Gate (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 16:00 | 0.01 mi (0.016 km) | 20 yd (18 m) |
| A trained spotter observed a tornado near Alligator Alley. ||||||||
| EF2 | Venus | Highlands | Florida | 27°02′N 81°22′W﻿ / ﻿27.04°N 81.36°W﻿ / 27.04; -81.36﻿ (Venus (June 24, EF2)) | June 24 | 16:23–16:29 | 3.45 mi (5.55 km) | 150 yd (140 m) |
| 1 death – A woman was killed after being thrown 200 ft (61 m) by the tornado; her daughter was found in her arms with injuries. The tornado damaged or destroyed six homes, tossed boats in a lake, and downed numerous trees. The original public information statement from the NWS Forecast Office in Tampa Bay lists this as an EF2 tornado; however, the NCEI database lists this as an EF0 tornado. ||||||||
| EF0 | SW of Immokalee | Collier | Florida | 26°22′N 81°33′W﻿ / ﻿26.37°N 81.55°W﻿ / 26.37; -81.55﻿ (Immokalee (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 16:25–16:30 | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 20 yd (18 m) |
| A trained spotter observed a tornado over open fields. ||||||||
| EF0 | NW of Lake Worth | Palm Beach | Florida | 26°38′02″N 80°03′52″W﻿ / ﻿26.634°N 80.0645°W﻿ / 26.634; -80.0645﻿ (Lake Worth (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 16:25 | 0.1 mi (0.16 km) | 20 yd (18 m) |
| A brief tornado damaged trees and pulled debris from a park. ||||||||
| EF0 | West Palm Beach | Palm Beach | Florida | 26°41′49″N 80°04′05″W﻿ / ﻿26.697°N 80.068°W﻿ / 26.697; -80.068﻿ (West Palm Beach (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 17:25–17:27 | 1.2 mi (1.9 km) | 30 yd (27 m) |
| An intermittent tornado touched down in a warehouse district in West Palm Beach, damaging the roof and doors of one warehouse. It struck the West Palm Beach station, damaging trees, knocking down a gate, and snapping a rail crossing arm. ||||||||
| EF0 | Golden Beach | Miami-Dade | Florida | 25°57′58″N 80°07′05″W﻿ / ﻿25.966°N 80.118°W﻿ / 25.966; -80.118﻿ (Golden Beach (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 18:05–18:06 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 30 yd (27 m) |
| A waterspout briefly moved onshore, tossing beach chairs and damaging trees and a beach hut. One structure had its doors and a gate blown in. ||||||||
| EF0 | WSW of Palmdale | Glades | Florida | 26°55′N 81°20′W﻿ / ﻿26.92°N 81.34°W﻿ / 26.92; -81.34﻿ (Palmdale (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 19:04 | 0.01 mi (0.016 km) | 20 yd (18 m) |
| A police officer reported a tornado crossing SR 74. ||||||||
| EF1 | WNW of Placid Lakes | Highlands | Florida | 27°16′N 81°26′W﻿ / ﻿27.27°N 81.44°W﻿ / 27.27; -81.44﻿ (Placid Lakes (June 24, EF1)) | June 24 | 19:23–19:30 | 5.31 mi (8.55 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| This tornado remained over uninhabited areas for much of its track before crossing Lake June in Winter. Along the lake's north shore, nine homes were damaged. A two-story home had the majority of its top floor destroyed, with only an interior bathroom remaining. Portions of the roof were thrown 50 ft (15 m). A poorly built home was completely destroyed with debris thrown hundreds of feet upstream. A nearby workshop largely collapsed, with only one wall remaining. A graduate study through the University of Florida rated the damage to these structures as mid-range EF2; however, the NWS Forecast Office in Tampa Bay rated the tornado as EF1. Along the southeastern shore of Lake Francis, several more structures sustained minor damage. ||||||||
| EF1 | SSE of Indian Rocks Beach | Pinellas | Florida | 27°52′42″N 82°50′37″W﻿ / ﻿27.8783°N 82.8437°W﻿ / 27.8783; -82.8437﻿ (Indian Rocks Beach (June 24, EF1)) | June 24 | 19:40–19:43 | 0.74 mi (1.19 km) | 75 yd (69 m) |
| A brief tornado damaged 21 structures; one home had a portion of its roof torn off. ||||||||
| EF0 | W of Pebble Creek | Hillsborough | Florida | 28°09′02″N 82°22′29″W﻿ / ﻿28.1506°N 82.3747°W﻿ / 28.1506; -82.3747﻿ (Pebble Creek (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 20:39–20:41 | 1.06 mi (1.71 km) | 50 yd (46 m) |
| A brief tornado caused minor damage to five homes; pool cages, fences, and trees were also damaged. ||||||||
| EF1 | New Port Richey | Pasco | Florida | 28°14′14″N 82°42′54″W﻿ / ﻿28.2372°N 82.715°W﻿ / 28.2372; -82.715﻿ (New Port Richey (June 24, EF1)) | June 24 | 21:17–21:19 | 0.37 mi (0.60 km) | 75 yd (69 m) |
| Five homes sustained major damage with losses reaching $650,000. ||||||||
| EF0 | SE of Winter Haven | Polk | Florida | 27°58′N 81°41′W﻿ / ﻿27.96°N 81.68°W﻿ / 27.96; -81.68﻿ (Winter Haven (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 22:55–22:56 | 0.92 mi (1.48 km) | 25 yd (23 m) |
| A brief overturned a semi-trailer and downed trees and power lines. ||||||||
| EF2 | E of Winter Haven | Polk | Florida | 27°57′N 81°41′W﻿ / ﻿27.95°N 81.68°W﻿ / 27.95; -81.68﻿ (Winter Haven (June 24, EF2)) | June 24 | 00:04–00:12 | 6.22 mi (10.01 km) | 150 yd (140 m) |
| A strong tornado damaged 17 homes, tore part of the roof off a big box store, and downed power lines. ||||||||
| EF1 | S of St. Pete Beach | Pinellas | Florida | 27°42′N 82°44′W﻿ / ﻿27.7°N 82.74°W﻿ / 27.7; -82.74﻿ (St. Pete Beach (June 24, EF1)) | June 24 | 00:21–00:25 | 3.02 mi (4.86 km) | 50 yd (46 m) |
| A waterspout moved onshore near St. Pete Beach, destroying the top floor of a rental building and damaging a marina. ||||||||
| EF0 | SW of Oakland | Lake | Florida | 28°29′06″N 81°39′39″W﻿ / ﻿28.4849°N 81.6609°W﻿ / 28.4849; -81.6609﻿ (Oakland (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 00:59–01:05 | 3.71 mi (5.97 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| A tornado damaged homes and trees on the south and north shores of Johns Lake. ||||||||
| EF0 | SE of Yeehaw Junction | Osceola | Florida | 27°40′10″N 80°53′46″W﻿ / ﻿27.6694°N 80.8961°W﻿ / 27.6694; -80.8961﻿ (Yeehaw Junction (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 01:55–02:02 | 3.08 mi (4.96 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| A tornado touched down in a wooded area near US 441 It traveled north, crossing SR 60 and the Florida Turnpike. A vacant motel and toll booth were damaged. Trees were downed, one of which fell on a car. ||||||||
| EF1 | SE of Sugarmill Woods | Citrus | Florida | 28°42′N 82°28′W﻿ / ﻿28.7°N 82.47°W﻿ / 28.7; -82.47﻿ (Sugarmill Woods (June 24, EF1)) | June 24 | 01:57–02:03 | 4.99 mi (8.03 km) | 100 yd (91 m) |
| Two mobile homes were destroyed, a block home suffered severe damage, and 20 homes had minor damage. ||||||||
| EF0 | NE of Deer Park | Osceola | Florida | 28°06′13″N 80°52′34″W﻿ / ﻿28.1035°N 80.876°W﻿ / 28.1035; -80.876﻿ (Deer Park (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 02:46–02:47 | 1.15 mi (1.85 km) | 50 yd (46 m) |
| Damage was primarily confined to pine trees, though one fence was damaged and a pile of aluminum pipes was blown around. ||||||||
| EF0 | WNW of Space Coast Regional Airport | Brevard | Florida | 28°31′53″N 80°51′41″W﻿ / ﻿28.5314°N 80.8614°W﻿ / 28.5314; -80.8614﻿ (Space Coast Regional Airport (June 24, EF0)) | June 24 | 03:37–03:38 | 1.17 mi (1.88 km) | 25 yd (23 m) |
| A brief tornado was observed near SR 50, illuminated by lightning. A few tree limbs were downed. ||||||||
| EF0 | WNW of Okeechobee | Highlands | Florida | 27°16′17″N 81°01′23″W﻿ / ﻿27.2714°N 81.023°W﻿ / 27.2714; -81.023﻿ (Okeechobee (June 26, EF0)) | June 26 | 14:25–14:27 | 1.1 mi (1.8 km) | 40 yd (37 m) |
| A brief tornado was observed without causing damage. ||||||||