Suspected tornado damages homes in Fort Myers ahead of Hurricane Milton landfall
Residents in Fort Myers, Florida, experienced storm damage from a suspected tornado as Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida Wednesday night. FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell reports. Oct. 9, 2024.
As if historic storm surge and hurricane-force winds weren’t enough, residents of Fort Myers had to deal with even more crazy weather from Milton as a tornado plowed through a neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon.
Multiple witnesses spotted the tornado moving through Fort Myers during Hurricane Milton's initial bands.
Tornado damage spotted in Fort Myers
FOX Weather's Brandy Campbell said she came across damage from the likely tornado that moved through Fort Myers, Florida, on Wednesday afternoon.
FOX Weather’s Brandy Campbell said she found some potential tornado damage on Daniels Parkway.
"The front door blew inside the house. So all of that breeze and that water was coming inside," said a storm victim.
His street and many others were lined with large, snapped trees and debris that wasn't there before the tornado.
Florida's I-75 hit by tornado Wednesday as outer bands of Milton arrive
Outer bands of Hurricane Milton are already impacting Florida ahead of landfall, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and tornadoes.
The twister seen in Fort Myers was just one of the many seen during Wednesday’s tornado outbreak spawned by Hurricane Milton.
At least a dozen tornadoes were reported in Central and South Florida ahead of the hurricane's landfall.
Dan Jones points toward a destroyed roof in his backyard after a tornado hit in Fort Myers, Florida on October 9, 2024, as Hurricane Milton approaches. Many Florida residents have fled, but some battened down the hatches, in the final hours October 9, 2024 before Hurricane Milton pummels the state, as government relief efforts were dragged into the thick of the White House race.
(Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Connor Ferran's house is seen after it was hit by a tornado in Fort Myers, Florida on October 9, 2024, as Hurricane Milton approaches. Milton regained power on October 8 to become a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 kph) as it barrels towards the west-central coast of Florida and is forecast to make landfall late October 9, according to the National Hurricane Center. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Alexa Haight hugs her grandfather Robin Haight before he is taken to the hospital by medics after getting injured by a reported tornado that hit his house in Fort Myers, Florida, on October 9, 2024, as Hurricane Milton approaches. Florida residents fled or just hunkered down in the final hours October 9 before Milton pummels the state, as government emergency relief efforts were dragged to the center of the US election.
(Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: 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. He said he had just had the roof replaced two years after Hurricane Ian had damaged it. People are preparing for the storm, which could be a Cat 3 when it makes landfall on Wednesday evening.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)