Videos show tornadoes blasting Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton landfall
TAMPA, Fla. - Tornado watches and warnings were issued across Florida on Wednesday as Hurricane Milton spun closer to landfall.
Video from across the state showed what appeared to be tornadoes hitting neighborhoods and even crossing interstate highways.
The view from one doorbell cam in Fort Myers showed palm trees being blasted by wind-driven rain from a tornado-warned storm before a howling gust of wind began to shake the camera and shred the trees.
Dylan Boehm, who took the video, said via text message that he was safe.
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Video: Florida traffic camera captured tornado as Hurricane Milton impacts state
A live camera from the Florida Department of Transportation spotted a confirmed tornado on the ground Wednesday morning in South Florida as Hurricane Milton barrels toward the state.
On the other coast, video from a traffic camera showed a large tornado crossing Interstate 75 on the eastern end of Alligator Alley. Other clips on social media showed funnel clouds in Ochopee, Clewiston, and Plantation.
By 3 p.m., the National Weather Service’s Miami office had already issued a single-day record of 41 tornado warnings, with the storm still hours away from landfall. The previous record for that office was 38, set during Hurricane Ian two years ago. In total, at least 80 warnings had been issued across the state and seven tornadoes had already been confirmed.
Tornadoes and hurricanes
According to FOX Weather, tornadoes are common when tropical systems make landfall.
The dangerous tornado threat is expected to persist throughout the day and into the night. As Milton's rain bands move inland, supercell thunderstorms capable of producing strong tornadoes, including those rated EF-2 or higher, are likely to form.
A three-hour radar loop showing where showers and thunderstorms are ongoing. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are indicated in yellow. Tornado Warnings are indicated in red, while Tornado Warnings with a confirmed tornado are indicated in purple. Flash F
Milton is poised to become one of the most devastating hurricanes in U.S. history. While it is expected to weaken slightly before landfall, it will still hit Florida as a powerful Category 3 storm, causing widespread destruction, the FOX Forecast Center said.