Tornado strikes Clewiston as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida’s west coast

A tornado ripped through Clewiston, Florida, on Wednesday morning as thousands of people evacuated from Florida’s west coast, seeking safety ahead of Hurricane Milton. 

The powerful storm is expected to make landfall between Tampa and Fort Myers late Wednesday night or early Thursday, bringing dangerous storm surges and hurricane-force winds.

As Hurricane Milton approaches, it is also forecasted to produce isolated tornadoes across Florida, with areas such as Orlando, Cape Canaveral, and Daytona Beach on high alert. Earlier in the day, a tornado was reported crossing Interstate 75 west of Fort Lauderdale, and the National Weather Service confirmed another tornado on the ground in the Everglades.

Clewiston, located 80 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale, remains under a Tornado Watch and Tropical Storm Warning, along with most of the region. Residents are urged to remain cautious as the storm's impact is expected to be widespread across the state.