Tornadoes tear through Florida with 8 more expected before hurricane - full list (original) (raw)

With Hurricane Milton looming outside Florida, meteorologists have noted a number of violent tornandoes expected to rip across the state before the storm itself

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Tornado spotted on the ground crossing through the I-75

Several tornadoes - each at speeds of up to 55mph - are expected to rip through Florida in the next 24 hours before Hurricane Milton strikes.

Meteorologists at TornadoHq, which monitors the phenomena, have tracked at least eight set to cause disruption, including a 55mph cyclone near East Naples moving northwards. They follow some tornadoes, which have already swept across the state in the southeast of the US.

They're as a result of Hurricane Milton, currently looming outside Florida and set to barrel eastwards over the next day or two. Millions of residents have been ordered to evacuate - or die - as Milton is feared to be the worst hurricane in one century. Pictures on social media show cyclones near Fort Lauderdale, one in the Collier County area and a stovepipe tornado circulating in Broward County. Each has caused destruction of properties and left widespread debris.

A person rides his bike through a flooded street in the rain in Mexico, from which Hurricane Milton passed (

Image:

AP)

A 45mph tornado is set to move north across Ortona, near Moore Haven, forecasters understand. Wind gusts have already reached 50mph along Florida's west coast, notably near Sarasota as Milton sweeps through the Gulf of Mexico.

Speaking in today's press conference, Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, said: "Unfortunately there will be fatalities. I don’t think there’s any way around that." Gov. Ron DeSantis said to people choosing to remain home on barrier islands, “just know that if you get 10 feet of storm surge, you can’t just hunker down with that.”

The Mayor of Tampa, meanwhile, has bluntly warned residents refusing to leave that "your house will be your coffin", adding "if you choose to stay… you are going to die". Florida is five hours behind the UK, so the tornadoes below are forecast throughout Wednesday afternoon there.

Full list of eight tornadoes feared