 Radar imagery of the storm that spawned the tornado | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1:53 p.m.EDT (UTC−04:00) May 12, 1997 |
| Dissipated | 2:08 p.m.EDT (UTC−04:00) May 12, 1997 |
| Duration | 15 minutes |
| F1 tornado | |
| on theFujita scale | |
| Highest winds | 110 mph (180 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 12 |
| Damage | $525,000 |
| Areas affected | Miami,Florida, U.S. |
| Power outages | 21,000 people |
The1997 Miami tornado (also known as theGreat Miami Tornado)[1] was anF1tornado which touched down inMiami, Florida, on May 12, 1997. The tornado was captured by an elevated camera operated by the local television stationWPLG.[2]
The tornado formed at 1:53 p.m. EDT, initially touching down in the Silver Bluff Estates area.[3] It then swept throughDowntown Miami bypassing the city's skyscrapers. It crossed theMacArthur Causeway and theVenetian Causeway towardsMiami Beach, sideswiping the cruise shipMSSovereign of the Seas. The tornado lifted from the water halfway throughBiscayne Bay and touched down briefly again in Miami Beach, flipping over a car and then dissipating. TheStorm Prediction Center inOklahoma had noted the possibility for tornadoes in the area and warned that there might be more to come. The tornado ultimately caused 12 injuries and $525,000 in damage,[4] though no injuries were serious.[5] The tornado's passage also cut power to 21,000 people.[5]
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