The EF3 tornado in Palm Beach Co. had winds of 140 miles per hour

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. – The tornado that ripped through Palm Beach County on Wednesday had peak winds of 140 miles per hour, starting in Wellington and eventually ending at least 21 miles later north in Jupiter Farms, the National Weather Service (NWS) said in a report released Friday evening.

The devastating EF3 tornado, which injured seven people, first touched down in Wellington at 4:51 p.m. and was on the ground until 5:21 p.m. The investigation determined that the tornado was 300 yards wide at its maximum width.

“The southernmost point of this survey is marked by a double-wide mobile home on Deer Path Lane in the Rustic Ranches neighborhood of Wellington that was virtually unrecognizable,” the NWS said.

The investigation revealed that the track extended north-northeast across the track extreme western part of Wellington, in the communities of Lakefield West, Meadowwood and Binks Forest, where EF1 and EF2 damage was noted to homes and trees.

The tornado crossed Southern Boulevard/US Highway 98 and then continued north-northeast over Loxahatchee Groves and The Acreage, where EF1 to isolated EF2 damage to homes, trees and outbuildings was observed.

According to the NWS, the tornado intensified as it approached Northlake Boulevard at the north end of The Acreage and then did its most damage Avenir Community Palm Beach Gardens.

The survey found that early in the Avenir community, a large portion of the roof of a Publix supermarket, which was recently completed and scheduled to open in the near future, collapsed after being hit by winds of at least 136 miles per hour.

The storm caused significant structural damage in Avenir, including severe roof damage to homes, shattering and blowing out impact-resistant windows, and lifting vehicles that were moved at least 100 meters.

The tornado then moved directly west, very close to the North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport, where a wind gust of 92 mph was recorded from the south-southwest around 5:10 p.m.

The tornado then crossed Bee Line Highway/State Road 710 where tree damage was observed and then entered Jupiter Farms where EF1 to EF2 damage was noted to trees, outbuildings and utility poles.

“Florida Turnpike highway camera footage showed the tornado moving north past Jupiter Farms to the Martin County line, where it likely continued into Martin County,” the report said. “The path width was 200-300 yards for much of the route, with only a few places where (the tornado's) circulation may have briefly weakened.”

The NWS survey concluded that the tornado's radar circulation was observed well south of Wellington in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, and video of the tornado was captured in that area from western Delray Beach.

The NWS said the route length provided in the report refers only to the portion examined.

“If the track were extended south to the shelter where radar circulation indicated the tornado may have begun, it would have reached a length of more than 30 miles,” the NWS said.