US Florida Suffers from Winter Tornado Outbreak
A massive tornado swept through the downtown area in Florida, USA. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the tornado destroyed parts of the power transmission system and caused some property damage as it passed.
The tornado made landfall on the 6th (local time) in the famous resort city of 'Fort Lauderdale' in southern Florida. Local media such as the Palm Beach Post reported that the tornado's maximum wind speed reached 128 km/h, and its width was about 90 meters.
Upon landfall, the tornado directly cut through the downtown pier and bustling commercial district. As a result, power lines and utility poles collapsed one after another, and parts of the power transmission system were damaged.
Videos taken at the time show a massive airflow passing through the city, continuously emitting bright sparks and flames. Fortunately, there were no casualties from the incident, and only some assets suffered minor damage.
The U.S. National Weather Service predicted that the tornado would gradually lose strength as it passed through Florida. However, the situation is not yet safe. Due to the still unstable surrounding atmosphere, there is a possibility that the tornado's strength could expand at any time.
The El Ni?o phenomenon (a condition where sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean are higher than average) is also a factor that strengthens the typhoon. Robert Molleda, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, told the media, "It is common for more tornadoes to occur during El Ni?o periods," adding, "With the current level of El Ni?o, there is a 54% chance of a strong typhoon occurring this winter."
Local authorities and residents are preparing for unexpected damage. The Palm Beach Post reported that several educational institutions, including Florida State University, have already been temporarily closed.
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