Hurricane Milton tornadoes to tear through Florida with more expected before main storm hits

Meteorologists have noted a number of violent tornandoes expected to rip across the state before Hurricane Milton itself.

Several tornadoes, each with winds of up to 55mph, are likely to tear through Florida in the next 24 hours before Hurricane Milton hits. TornadoHq meteorologists, which monitor the phenomena, have identified at least eight storms that are expected to cause disruption, including a 55mph cyclone travelling north from East Naples.

They are following tornadoes that have already blasted across the state in the southeast of the United States. They are the product of Hurricane Milton, which is now towering outside of Florida and is expected to move eastward over the next day or two.

Millions of citizens have been advised to leave - or die - as Milton is expected to be the deadliest storm in a century. Images on social media show cyclones in Fort Lauderdale, one in Collier County, and a stovepipe tornado circulating in Broward County. Each has destroyed buildings and left vast debris.

Forecasters believe a 45-mph tornado will continue north past Ortona, near Moore Haven. Wind gusts have already hit 50 mph over Florida's west coast, particularly around Sarasota, as Milton moves across the Gulf of Mexico.

Speaking in today's press conference, Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, said: "Unfortunately there will be fatalities. I don’t think there’s any way around that." Gov. Ron DeSantis said to people choosing to remain home on barrier islands, “just know that if you get 10 feet of storm surge, you can’t just hunker down with that.”

The Mayor of Tampa, meanwhile, has bluntly warned residents refusing to leave that "your house will be your coffin", adding "if you choose to stay… you are going to die". Florida is five hours behind the UK, so the tornadoes below are forecast throughout Wednesday afternoon there.

Full list of eight tornadoes feared

• A tornado is believed to sweep across Matlacha Isles-Matlacha Shores, near Cape Coral, moving north at 35mph later on Wednesday
• A tornado is set to move north at 45mph across Ortona, near Moore Haven on Wednesday afternoon
• A tornado is feared to strike near Brighton Seminole Reservation, near Lakeport, moving north at 30mph as Wednesday progresses
• A tornado is said to sweep across Naples Park, near Bonita Springs, and moving north at 45mph on Wednesday afternoon
• A cyclone is anticipated to sweep across Canal Point, moving north at 30mph
• A tornado will happen near Lakeport, moving northwest at 35mph
• A tornado is understood to sweep across Fremd Village-Padgett Island, near Pahokee, and moving north at 20mph
• A tornado is understood to strike East Naples, and moving north at 55mph later today

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