WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — South Florida and the Treasure Coast were plagued with ongoing tornadoes on Wednesday as Hurricane Milton closed in on the state.
According to Gov. Ron DeSantis during a press conference Wednesday evening, there have been at least 19 confirmed tornado touchdowns across the state.
Kevin Guthrie, the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said 125 homes have been destroyed statewide, most being mobile homes in senior communities.
National Weather Service offices in Miami, Melbourne, and Tampa issued 98 tornado warnings on Wednesday afternoon, with the office in Miami issuing a record 55 of those warnings.
LIST OF CONFIRMED TORNADOES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE:
At 2:12 p.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located nine miles north of Okeechobee, moving north at 35 mph.
At 2:17 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located Port St. Lucie, moving north at 25 mph.
At 2:45 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Fort Pierce South, moving northwest at 30 mph.
At 2:46 p.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located seven miles northeast of Fort Drum in Okeechobee County, moving north at 30 mph.
At 3:04 p.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Blue Cypress Lake, moving north at 30 mph
At 3:34 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Palm City, moving north at 35 mph.
At 4:12 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located over Jensen Beach, moving north at 40 mph.
At 4:27 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located over Vero Beach Highland, moving north at 15 mph.
At 4:44 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located 10 miles northwest of Traditon, moving north at 35 mph.
At 4:47 p.m., a reported large and extremely dangerous tornado was located near Wellington, moving north at 40 mph.
At 5:03 p.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over The Acreage, moving north at 40 mph.
At 5:06 p.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located near Fort Pierce, moving north at 35 mph.
At 5:07 p.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Palm Beach County, moving north at 40 mph.
At 5:09 p.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Saint Lucie Airport, moving north at 35 mph.
At 5:13 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Palm City, moving north at 40 mph.
At 5:18 p.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Vero Beach Highland, moving at 35 mph.
At 5:19 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Jupiter, moving north at 40 mph.
At 5:27 p.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Vero Beach, moving at 30 mph.
Weather News
'Never seen anything like this': Tornadoes hit multiple areas of Treasure Coast
The tornadic activity started Wednesday morning when the National Weather Service said a "dangerous tornado" touched down near the Miccosukee Service Plaza off Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley) near the Broward-Collier County line at approximately 10 a.m.
Moments later, WPTV was live as a tornado ripped across I-75, a few miles west of U.S. 27 in north-central Broward County.
"There it is. Wow!" WPTV First Alert Weather meteorologist Jennifer Correa said live on air. "This is an impressive image."
WATCH: Tornado touches down live on WPTV
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
Correa said the strongest winds in our viewing area — especially in Indian River and Okeechobee counties — will likely be between 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. Thursday. Then as we get closer to 10 a.m. and noon, Milton's center will start to exit and the winds won't be as breezy.
The threat of tropical-storm-force winds will exist through Thursday.
Drier air will eventually move into South Florida starting on Friday, Correa said.
