Tornadoes were 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 were expected.

At 10:03 a.m. (EST), NWS Miami 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. Images of the tornado’s early stages were retweeted.

View of a tornado from @fl511_southeast traffic cameras along Alligator Alley. @NWSMiami @SammyHadiWx pic.twitter.com/9q03qXWAtN

— Lauren Olesky (@LoleskyWX) October 9, 2024

Another post followed, featuring a photo of a tornado crossing I-75. “Seek shelter NOW!” the caption urged. By 10:21 a.m. (EST), another sighting was reported, showing a video of a tornado 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., Eastern Standard Time (EST). Another netizen from the area added a picture and wrote, “From my window in Weston…”

Other outlets posted footage of the natural phenomena as well. One clip shared on WPLG Local 10’s YouTube channel captured a tornado passing through West Pembroke Pines.

In another video, a tornado was seen moving through the Everglades near Alligator Alley in Broward County, with dark clouds swirling overhead. A different clip, taken in Southwest Ranches, showed a tornado captured on cellphone video.

At 10:56 a.m. (EST), NWS Miami issued a reminder, emphasizing that multiple tornadoes had already been confirmed, with three active warnings in effect. “Additional tornadoes remain possible,” the agency warned as Hurricane Milton approached landfall.

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 5:24 p.m. (EST), the NWS added more information, “LARGE MULTI-VORTEX TORNADO REMAINS ON THE GROUND NOW MOVING INTO MARTIN COUNTY.”

Just three minutes later, at 5:27 p.m. (EST), they wrote, “DAMAGING LARGE TORNADO HAS NOW MOVED OUT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY.”

TORNADO IN WELLINGTON:
Video a friend sent to me of a confirmed tornado moving through Wellington on Southern Blvd ahead of #HurricaneMilton.

SEEK SHELTER NOW!!! pic.twitter.com/17rAfjN6BE

— Kate Hussey (@katehussey8) October 9, 2024

According to NWS Miami, by 6:00 p.m. (EST) it had issued 55 tornado warnings, contributing to a total of 98 warnings across the Tampa Bay, Melbourne, and Miami areas. At least nine confirmed tornadoes had struck the Miami region by that time, underscoring the unprecedented severity of Hurricane Milton’s impact on South Florida.

Their post around the same time further confirmed the ongoing storm surge, warning, “? Storm Surge Ongoing ? Water levels continue to rapidly increase across southwestern Florida as #Milton’s surge moves in.”

At the time, residents were urged to monitor the latest updates from trusted sources and to seek safety immediately. They were advised to stay informed, exercise caution, and follow necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families during the extreme weather event.

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