1925 Miami tornado
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox weather event
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Tornado
| basin = atl
| fujita-scale = EF3
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1925
| deaths = 5
| injuries = 35
| damages = $300,000 (1925 USD)
${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|300000|1925|r=-4}}}} ({{CURRENTYEAR}} USD)
| affected = Dade County in Florida}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = Tornadoes of 1925
}}
The 1925 Miami tornado was an intense tornado that struck Dade County, Florida, on April 5, 1925. It remains the deadliest tornado to affect the South Florida county, and it is estimated to have been the most intense tornado to strike the Miami area. The tornado killed five people and injured 35, and caused damage estimated at between $200,000 and $300,000.{{cite web|author=Gray, Richard W.|year=1925|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/053/mwr-053-04-0145.pdf|title=The Tornado of April 5, 1925, near Miami, Fla.|publisher=U.S. Weather Bureau|accessdate=2008-06-01 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308031347/http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/053/mwr-053-04-0145.pdf |archivedate=March 8, 2012}}{{cite web|author=Gregoria, Dan|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/files/MFLSVRCLIMO.pdf|title=WFO Miami, Florida severe weather climatology|publisher=National Weather Service|accessdate=2008-06-01|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080925134721/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/files/MFLSVRCLIMO.pdf |archivedate = September 25, 2008|url-status=dead}} The tornado remains the only tornado to cause multiple fatalities in Dade County.{{cite web|author=Lushine, James B|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/newpage/ground_hog_day.html|title=Summary of Severe Weather Outbreak in South Florida: February 2, 1998|publisher=National Weather Service Miami, Florida office|accessdate=2008-06-09| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080724143046/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/newpage/ground_hog_day.html| archivedate= 24 July 2008 | url-status= live}} While officially unrated, it is estimated that the tornado likely produced F3-level damage based on photographs taken after the passage of the supercell.{{refn|group=nb|name=Fujita|The Fujita scale was devised under the aegis of scientist T. Theodore Fujita in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.{{harvnb|Grazulis|1993|p=141}} While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,{{cite web|last1=Edwards|first1=Roger|title=Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html|website=The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC)|publisher=Storm Prediction Center|accessdate=25 February 2016|date=5 March 2015}} Canada utilized the old scale until April 1, 2013;{{cite web |title=Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale) |url=https://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 |website=Environment and Climate Change Canada |accessdate=25 February 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220706/http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 |archivedate=3 March 2016 |date=6 June 2013 |url-status=dead }} nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.{{cite web|title=The International Tornado Intensity Scale |url=http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php |website=Tornado and Storm Research Organisation |accessdate=25 February 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305120332/http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php |archivedate=5 March 2016 |date=2016 |url-status=dead }}}}
Summary
The exact path and strength of the tornado are uncertain, since it occurred prior to modern records which began in 1950. The first tornadoes to directly receive damage ratings on the Fujita scale occurred in 1971.
The 1925 tornado was first reported in its formative stage over the Everglades near Hialeah, where several golfers noted a funnel cloud around 1:00 p.m. Hail was reported with the parent thunderstorm prior to the sighting of the funnel cloud. The slow movement of the storm was accompanied by a large number of people outside during the Sunday afternoon, which led to a considerable number of reports; several reports originated from passing motorists. The vortex touched down around 1:15 p.m., and the tornado was described as a "very slender" funnel that frequently lifted from the ground for brief periods. The debris swirling around the rotation was compared to smoke from "burning oil." Later, as it passed west of Miami, the slow-moving tornado passed over and destroyed the state's largest dairy farm, killing one person and injuring 20 people. Losses from the farm reached $100,000.{{cite news |url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=61670685_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=0¤tPage=0|date=6 April 1925|title=Three Perish, Heavy Damage in Tornado Near Miami, Florida |work=Portsmouth Daily Times |agency=United Press |location=Miami|publication-place=Portsmouth, Ohio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115082953/http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=61670685_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=0¤tPage=0|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 January 2016|accessdate=17 June 2020}}
The tornado eventually intensified and destroyed numerous properties northwest and north of the city of Miami, causing at least three deaths. Some residents successfully attempted to flee in automobiles, though the cars were wrecked and some were thrown for distances. The tornado became obscured by rain, weakened, and dissipated over the northern portion of Biscayne Bay, though it destroyed some power poles along the eastern half of its damage path. Hail associated with the storm was measured to {{convert|3|in|cm|lk=on}} in diameter, damaging automobiles and residences' roofs. The damage path was less than {{convert|100|yd|m|lk=on}} in width, and the funnel was visible for nearly one hour.{{cite book |last1=Grazulis |first1=Thomas P. |authorlink1=Thomas P. Grazulis |title=Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events |date=July 1993 |publisher=The Tornado Project of Environmental Films |location=St. Johnsbury, Vermont |isbn=1-879362-03-1 |page=797 }} The thunderstorm that spawned the tornado also affected the communities of Ojus, Little River, Biscayne Park, and Lemon City, having traversed the region from Homestead to Fort Lauderdale.
In total, the tornado demolished nearly 50 residences. Five fatalities were related directly to the tornado or injuries from flying debris. One of the deaths occurred inside a restaurant; the building was demolished and a cookstove thrown {{convert|100|yd|m|abbr=on}}. Hundreds of people were homeless after the storm, and several residences were destroyed at Biscayne Park.{{cite news |title=Florida Tornado Takes Toll of 4 Lives on Sunday |work=La Crosse Tribune |agency=Associated Press |date=6 April 1925}}
See also
Notes
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