A Tornado Just Touched Down 30 Miles North of Jupiter. Are You Ready?

A tornado touched down just 30 miles north of Jupiter on Sunday, August 23, sending funnel clouds over Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, and Palm City — and leaving minor structural damage to homes in the Southbend area near SE Wake Road and Navy Avenue.

The National Weather Service confirmed the event late Sunday night, describing it as a "landspout-type" tornado — a shallow, near-surface circulation that formed near Jessica Clinton Park before tracking toward the St. Lucie River, where it became a waterspout. A damage survey was conducted Monday morning.

What this means for Jupiter

We're in the heart of hurricane season, and tornadoes are one of the most underestimated threats that come with it. When a hurricane or strong tropical system passes through South Florida, embedded tornadoes can spin up quickly — with little warning — in the outer bands, well away from the storm's center.

Jupiter sits directly in the zone where these events occur. Sunday's tornado formed under the same late-August storm pattern affecting all of Palm Beach County right now.

What Jupiter residents should know

• 
  Tornado watches vs. warnings: A watch means conditions are favorable. A warning means one has been spotted or detected on radar — take shelter immediately.
  
• Safest spot in your home: An interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows. A closet, bathroom, or hallway works well.
• 
  If you're outside or in a car: Do not shelter under an overpass. Get to a sturdy building or lie flat in a low-lying area.
• 
  Hurricane prep overlaps: If your hurricane kit is stocked and your shutters are ready, you're already ahead. Tornadoes during hurricanes move fast — the time to prepare is now, not when a warning is issued.
  

Check your preparedness now The Palm Beach County Emergency Management office recommends all residents review their hurricane plans before the season peaks in mid-September. Resources at pbcgov.org/publicsafety/dem.

Source: WPBF 25 News, National Weather Service Melbourne