Oct 9, 2024 - Energy & Climate

Deaths reported as Hurricane Milton-spawned tornadoes tear across Florida

Rebecca Falconer

Robert Haight salvages what he can from his home after what appeared to be a tornado tore the roof off before Hurricane Milton's arrival on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. — Robert Haight salvages what he can from his home after what appeared to be a tornado tore his roof off before Hurricane Milton's arrival on Wednesday in Fort Myers, Florida. He said he'd just had the roof replaced two years after Hurricane Ian had damaged it. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

South Florida officials have confirmed fatalities from a tornado outbreak as Hurricane Milton approached the state on Wednesday.

The big picture: Nearly 100 tornado warnings were issued in South Florida — where officials in St. Lucie County told WPBF-TV there had been multiple deaths after six-12 suspected tornadoes related to the storm touched down at the same time.

By the numbers: The National Weather Service in Miami noted on X at 6pm ET that it had issued 55 tornado warnings and those issued by NWS offices in Tampa Bay and Melbourne took the total across the region to 98.

"At least 9 Confirmed Tornadoes today in our NWS Miami area (Preliminary)," it said.

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Deaths reported as Hurricane Milton-spawned tornadoes tear across Florida

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