© FOX WeatherA look at the tornado threat in Florida on Wednesday, October 9, 2024
A dangerous tornado outbreak has emerged from the outer bands of Hurricane Milton, posing a significant threat to Florida as the massive storm approaches.
More than 80 Tornado Warnings had already been issued as of Wednesday afternoon. This comes following the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center's (SPC) issuance of a Tornado Watch for parts of Central and South Florida.
The NWS Miami office has broken its record for the most Tornado Warnings issued in a single day, with more than 40 issued as of Wednesday afternoon. The previous record for that office was set during Hurricane Ian.
© Fox WeatherRadar screencap of Hurricane Milton, October 9, 2024
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.
Milton, a Category 4 hurricane as Wednesday afternoon, will make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Center said. With the threat of catastrophic storm surge and hurricane-force winds, millions of residents in Milton's path have been urged to evacuate immediately as time is running out.
On Wednesday morning, stunning video from Florida Department of Transportation cameras along Interstate 75 in Alligator Alley between Broward and Palm Beach counties captured the destructive force of Milton's extreme weather in the state. It was the second tornado in less than 20 minutes that was witnessed as these storms lifted north.
Additional video footage captured the large tornado near the Miccosukee Service Plaza west of Andytown. The tornado was associated with a tornado-warned supercell thunderstorm.
Another video recorded in Clewiston, Florida, shows a tornado spinning across the landscape Wednesday morning.
No immediate reports of injuries or damage have been reported at this time. The FOX Forecast Center said this type of severe weather is a common threat when tropical systems make landfall.
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 make landfall as a powerful Category 3 storm, causing widespread destruction, the FOX Forecast Center said.
The storm surge associated with Milton is expected to be life-threatening and catastrophic, especially along and south of the storm's track. Additionally, the hurricane's strong winds will cause significant damage as the eyewall moves through the state. Power outages are likely to be widespread and may last for days or even weeks.
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