“This is a confirmed tornado!” says meteorologist Brooks Garner in gripping footage broadcast by Fox 35 in Orlando this morning.
Garner was reporting on a Tornado Warning issued for Seminole and Volusia counties in Florida when he realized the station itself, which sits in Seminole, was being struck by a twister.
Watching increasing winds, whiteout and swirl on the the weather camera mounted outside the station, Garner says, “We’re catching debris right now on the roof,” his voice rising as he narrates what is happening.
“You can see debris flying right now on the camera. Seek shelter immediately, get under your desks, guys. Anchors: Under your desks.”
The tornado, later given an EF2 rating by the National Weather Service, was believed to have peak wind gusts to 115 mph, which is equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane.
The twister destroyed two homes north of Orlando and broke car windows at the Fox 35 studio. The outlet is owned and operated by Fox’s Television Stations division.
