Two “devastating” and “extremely dangerous” tornadoes were located in South Florida on Wednesday, hours before the hurricane arrived Milton.
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“At 10:15 a.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located near the Big Cypress Seminole Tribe Reservation, 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Montura, moving north at 25 mph (40 km/h),” the National Weather Service (NWS) in South Florida said on its website.
“This is a particularly dangerous situation,” the National Weather Service continued. You are in a life-threatening situation,” it reads, noting that the tornado is “devastating.”
It also states the possibility that flying debris could be fatal for homeless people, mobile homes could be “damaged or destroyed” and the tornado could cause “considerable damage” to homes.
The service specifies the importance of taking shelter. “A tornado is on the ground. Cover up now, he stressed. Move to an interior room on the ground floor of a solid building. Avoid windows. If you are outside, (…) move to the nearest solid shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.”
The NWS also confirmed that the tornado crossed a section of the I-75 highway.
“A tornado crossed I-75 west of Sunrise, we can read in an X publication by Vivian Gonzalez. It remained on the ground for a few minutes and moved north at 40 km/h.”
“Dangerous” tornado in Fort Myers
Another “large” and “extremely dangerous” tornado was located around 12:15 p.m. 12 miles (19 km) north of Fort Myers, moving north at 25 mph, the NWS warned.
“It’s a particularly dangerous situation,” he said. Take cover now!”
The city of Fort Myers was heavily hit by the tornado, a few hours before the arrival of Milton.
Images shared on social media show damaged homes, toppled trees, street signs and power lines.
A tornado warning was issued for more than 12 million people in central and southern Florida until 9 p.m., including Tampa, Miami, Cape Coral and Key West.
