Tropical cyclones often produce tornadoes, which can contribute to the overall destructive power of a storm. Similar to storm surge and extreme wind, tornadoes are more likely to occur in the right-front quadrant of the hurricane relative to its motion. However, they can also be found throughout the storm.
A tornado spawned by a tropical storm or hurricane usually develops quickly, sometimes with little warning. It is critical to have multiple ways of receiving alerts during a hurricane, such as tornado warnings, should there be a loss of power. We encourage the use of a battery-powered NOAA weather radio or a mobile app, like Florida Storms, with push notifications turned on.
Tornadoes associated with tropical cyclones are usually less intense than those that occur in Tornado Alley and Dixie Alley. However, they can occur for days after landfall, and produce substantial damage in neighborhoods that might have not been in the storm’s direct path.
