Florida experienced a significant outbreak of tornadoes on Wednesday, with at least 27 tornadoes reported across the state as Hurricane Milton approached. The National Weather Service (NWS) is currently working to confirm all the reports, a task made challenging by the ongoing storm conditions.
On that day, more than 125 tornado warnings were issued by NWS offices in Tampa Bay, Melbourne, and Miami. This marked a record-breaking number of tornado warnings in a single day for Florida, surpassing the previous record of 69 warnings set during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Tragically, a tornado in St. Lucie County resulted in fatalities within a mobile home retirement community. While the exact number of deaths has not been disclosed by county sheriff Keith Pearson, it has been confirmed that more than one person lost their lives. The impact of the tornadoes was devastating, with hundreds of homes in the county being completely destroyed even before Hurricane Milton made landfall.
The severity of the tornado outbreak underscores the unpredictable and destructive nature of hurricanes and their associated weather phenomena. Residents in affected areas are urged to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines issued by local authorities as the state braces for further impacts from Hurricane Milton.
