A tornado struck Lake Placid, a town in Highlands County, Florida, on Wednesday. Videos captured the tornado moving through the area and causing significant damage. This tornado was one of several that impacted the state as Hurricane Milton approached for its expected landfall.
A particularly dangerous situation was declared as a tornado warning was declared for Lake Placid Fl and the unincorporated community of Lorida, until 2:30 p.m. EDT.
HOLY CRAP! HEADS UP INLANDERS!!!Tornado on the ground in Lake Placid headed NNE. pic.twitter.com/4Ed9g6IDbe
— Ladylawyer (@Ladylaw31256058) October 9, 2024
Anybody in Lake Placid area seek shelter immediately. pic.twitter.com/7NxgehU4pn
— Patriot 𝕏 Badass (@PatriotBadass) October 9, 2024
Damage from the storm that went right near Lake Placid FL @NWSTampaBay#flwxhttps://t.co/uGzlTEKjFMpic.twitter.com/Jy5FZNNsrG
— DixieChasing (@DixieChasing) October 9, 2024
Wedge tornado in progress doing damage in Lake Placid, FL https://t.co/aJ5xTHhoDe
— Battery Traveller (@IMCFTraveller) October 9, 2024
Highlands County deputies were cited by Tampa 10 to report that the tornado appeared at Tropical Harbor Estates Mobile Home Park in Lake Placid, with significant damage near Belle Tower Avenue.
Sheriff's office officials are on-site as residents are seen outside their mobile homes. So far, no injuries have been reported, the report added.
Milton: The Weirdest StormMilton is the latest system in a hurricane season that scientists call the 'weirdest' on record, as per the Associated Press. Forecasters anticipated an active Atlantic season, starting with Beryl reaching Category 5 status earlier than ever.
Then, after a quiet stretch from August 20 to September 23, five hurricanes developed between September 26 and October 6, breaking the old record of two.
On Sunday and Monday, three simultaneous October hurricanes occurred for the first time in history, according to Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University. Milton rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane within 46 1/2 hours.
The National Hurricane Center predicted the storm would likely weaken but remain a major hurricane upon landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday. The Tampa Bay area, home to over 3.3 million people, faced the threat of widespread destruction.