Tornadoes have been spotted in parts of South Florida as Hurricane Milton draws closer, prompting authorities to urge residents to safety.
As of Wednesday morning, October 9, 2024, multiple tornadoes were reported across South Florida. The local National Weather Service (NWS Miami) issued urgent warnings as more severe weather, fueled by the approach of Hurricane Milton, swept across several counties.
From my window in Weston… pic.twitter.com/21Gqy6dF52
— Bob Hopkins (@bhopkinsfl) October 9, 2024
Tornadoes have been confirmed in areas including the Everglades, Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, and locations near major highways. South Floridians were advised to stay alert as more tornadoes remain possible
At 10:03 a.m. (EST), NWS Miami-South Florida posted a warning of a tornado on the ground over the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation on their X (formerly Twitter) account, urging people in the vicinity to take shelter. The NWS retweeted images of phases of the tornado’s early sightings.
Additional photos (from earlier) of the tornado warned cell that is currently over Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation.
You can see the various phases of the life-cycle of a tornado…
Indications is that it remains on the ground, please seek shelter! https://t.co/KdUJO5rEl0
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) October 9, 2024
Another post followed where they wrote, “TORNADO crossing I-75 as we speak! Seek shelter NOW!” By 10:21 a.m. (EST), another sighting was posted, showing west-northwest of the Miccosukee Service Plaza.
**Ongoing dangerous TORNADO on the ground **
SEEK SHELTER – SE Hendry County
Considerable Tag Issued! https://t.co/7n5bvGmip9
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) October 9, 2024
Users responded to these messages with pictures and videos of their own. “Outside Weston. Just took this,” a resident posted at 10:26 a.m. (EST). Another netizen from the area added a picture and wrote, “From my window in Weston…”
Other outlets have posted footage of the natural phenomena as well. One clip shared on WPLG Local 10’s YouTube channel captures a tornado passing through west Pembroke Pines.
In another video, a tornado is seen moving through the Everglades, near Alligator Alley, with dark clouds swirling overhead. Another striking clip comes from Southwest Ranches, where a tornado was caught on cellphone video.
At 10:56 a.m. (EST), the NWS issued a reminder, stressing that multiple tornadoes had already been confirmed and that three active warnings were in effect. “Additional tornadoes remain possible,” they warned, as Hurricane Milton gets closer to landing.
REMINDER: We’ve already seen several *confirmed* tornadoes across South Florida this morning!
Three active warnings are currently in effect!
As we remain on the northeastern side of #Milton today, additional tornadoes remain possible. Stay alert! pic.twitter.com/z9xdIHrPCF
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) October 9, 2024
At 11:46 a.m. (EST), the NWS posted another urgent update, “Reports of another meso-vortex Tornado ongoing on the western side of Lake Okeechobee near Lakeport. 4 Ongoing Tornado Warnings – Naples Metro, Pahokee/Canal Point, Lakeport, Ortona. SEEK SHELTER NOW!”
Reports of another meso-vortex Tornado ongoing on the western side of Lake Okeechobee near Lakeport.
4 Ongoing Tornado Warnings
– Naples Metro
– Pahokee/Canal Point
– Lakeport
– OrtonaSEEK SHELTER NOW! pic.twitter.com/qUbZrLzuPM
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) October 9, 2024
At 12:41 p.m. (EST), the NWS posted another alarming update, “? Storm Surge Threat Beginning? Views from the Naples Pier this afternoon indicate that #Milton’s surge is beginning to arrive across coastal southwestern Florida with water levels steadily rising during what should be low tide Stay alert!”
Later in the afternoon, at 1:30 p.m. (EST), they provided a radar update, “A large convective band of Hurricane #Milton continues to rotate across southwestern Florida. A new Tornado Warning is in effect 1:45 p.m. for Collier and Hendry counties.”
1:30pm Radar Update: A large convective band of Hurricane #Milton continues to rotate across southwestern Florida.
A new Tornado Warning is in effect 1:45pm for Collier and Hendry counties. pic.twitter.com/P2feOgw4Qj
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) October 9, 2024
By 1:37 p.m. (EST), a storm surge warning remained in effect for coastal Collier and Mainland Monroe counties. The NWS indicated that winds were shifting to a more southerly onshore direction with estimates of 3–8 feet of storm surge possible in affected areas.
At 2 p.m. (EST), they confirmed Hurricane Milton’s sustained winds had reached 130 mph, with tornado warnings and storm surge threats continuing across southwestern Florida.
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