Tornado crosses I-75 as Hurricane Milton closes in on Florida

(Gray News) - A tornado was reported crossing a major interstate in Florida as Hurricane Milton approached the state.

The National Weather Service in Miami posted a photo of a funnel crossing the Interstate 75 on the social media platform X Wednesday morning.

“TORNADO crossing I-75 as we speak! Seek shelter NOW!” the post caption read.

Forecasters warned that tornadoes and heavy rain would likely occur Wednesday as Hurricane Milton closed in on the Florida coast.

As of 6 p.m., The National Weather Service had issued 98 tornado warnings in Florida, including 55 by the Miami forecast office.

The Miami office has also confirmed at least nine tornadoes in its region.

Six to 12 inches of rain is expected Wednesday through areas of Florida, with some places forecast to receive 18 inches, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The center reported conditions are expected to deteriorate throughout Wednesday as Milton nears landfall.

Copyright 2024 Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.