Florida tornado collapses home after hitting FOX 35 Orlando TV station during live newscast

Florida tornado leaves significant damage in Lake Mary

Severe weather, including at least one tornado, tore across portions of Central Florida on Monday morning. FOX 35 Orlando Reporter Amanda McKenzie filed this report from Lake Mary shortly after the tornado.

ORLANDO, Fla. – A tornado hit the FOX 35 Orlando television station Monday morning in what a meteorologist called a rare event. 

The tornado is believed to have cut across Interstate 4 just north of Orlando, moving across Lake Mary and into Sanford just before 10 a.m. ET.

Staff at FOX 35 Orlando said they felt the building shake and heard debris hitting the roof as the tornado hit.

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Watch: Tornado hits FOX 35 Orlando studio while live on air

Severe weather tore across portions of Central Florida on Monday morning, and a tornado hit the FOX 35 Orlando studio while they were live on the air.

"This is a very rare event," FOX 35 Orlando Meteorologist Brooks Garner said Monday morning. "We were able to confirm the tornado as it hit our station."

Seminole County first responders told FOX Weather they are answering several calls of damage in neighborhoods.

FOX 35 reporter Amanda McKenzie showed scenes of downed tree branches, signs and even a brick wall that was brought down by a tree in the Whispering Winds neighborhood of Lake Mary.

"A lot of debris on the ground, several first responders are on the scene, McKenzie said. "We are hearing that several homes on this street are damaged."

Another FOX 35 reporter showed damage to their car and other vehicles in the TV station's parking lot.

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Damage from tornado at FOX 35 Orlando Studio in Lake Mary, FL

(WOFL)

Seminole, Volusia and Sarasota counties were all placed under Tornado Warnings on Monday morning.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office told FOX Weather there was significant damage to a home in Longwood, Florida.

Possible tornado damage to a residential home on Blue Iris Place in Longwood, Florida on March 10, 2025. 

(Seminole County Fire Department)

The Seminole County Fire Department released this statement to FOX Weather:

"Due to the weather impact, there is a collapsed home in … Longwood and another damaged home. There were two occupants, and both were uninjured. Residents are currently safe from the collapsed home."

Fire officials later said the only part of the home that survived the storm was where the two people took shelter.

"This couple moved into the room of safety," said Alan Harris the Seminole County Emergency Manager. "That's what we want them to do."

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Damage from tornado-warned storm in Lake Mary, FL (WKMG).

(WKMG)

Police encouraged people to stay indoors and warned of dangerous debris on the roads. At least 500 people were without power in the immediate aftermath of the storm, according to police.

Officials said no serious injuries have been reported. 

The National Weather Service Office in Melbourne is conducting a damage survey to determine the track and intensity of the tornado.

Watch: Video shows Florida tornado impacting FOX 35 Orlando studio

A video shared by FOX 35 Orlando Anchor Ryan Elijah shows how quickly the situation changed as strong winds and heavy rain from a tornado moved outside the studio in Lake Mary on Monday, March 10, 2025.

These storms are part of an upper-level low moving over Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The low will continue moving eastward throughout the day and eventually push offshore by the evening.