Hurricane Milton Triggers Over 120 Tornado Warnings in Florida, Fatalities Reported

Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in Siesta Key around 8:30 p.m., has resulted in over 120 tornado warnings across Florida, with several fatalities reported in St. Lucie County. The storm is currently classified as a Category 3 hurricane, featuring hurricane-force winds extending 35 miles from its center and tropical-storm-force winds reaching up to 255 miles.

As noted by Roger Edwards, a lead forecaster at the Storm Prediction Center, tornadoes can occur far from a hurricane's center, and Hurricane Milton is likely to produce more tornadoes than many Category 4 storms due to its wind shear and atmospheric instability. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed ten tornadoes in Florida before the storm's landfall.

Tornado Reports and Damage

Tornado activity has been confirmed across several regions, including:

Broward County: A tornado was spotted on traffic cameras.

Collier County: Two tornadoes were reported crossing Interstate 75 around 9:45 a.m. and 10:10 a.m.

Indian River County: Tornadoes were sighted near Vero Beach, including a large and dangerous one reported at 5:27 p.m.

Lee County: A tornado caused significant damage in a Fort Myers mobile home community.

Martin County: Tornadoes were spotted near Port Mayaca and the Stuart area.

Palm Beach County: A tornado touched down in Wellington, damaging homes and downing power lines.

In St. Lucie County, a tornado destroyed a building at the Sheriff's Office in Fort Pierce. Multiple fatalities were reported at Spanish Lakes Country Club Village in Lakewood Park. St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson described the situation as devastating, emphasizing the tornado's destructive power.

Emergency services, supported by the Florida National Guard, are conducting search-and-rescue operations to evacuate residents from affected areas. As the storm continues, officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.

Ongoing Efforts

The NWS has issued ongoing warnings and updates, advising residents to stay indoors and monitor the situation closely. As of 4:44 p.m., a confirmed tornado was reported moving north at 35 mph, prompting additional emergency responses.