FORT MYERS, Fla. — A suspected tornado ripped through parts of Fort Myers on Wednesday afternoon, leaving behind serious damage just hours before Hurricane Milton makes landfall on the western coast.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office posted damage from different parts of Fort Myers, which included destruction in the 1st Precinct near Pondella Road and Forsyth Drive in the northern part of the city, as well as Lakewood Shores.
The powerful storm left homes torn apart and debris scattered across the streets, as seen below in photos posted by the Sheriff's Office:
Hurricane Milton has spawned an outbreak of tornadoes across the state that has caused severe damage across Florida.
Numerous tornadoes across the state were caught on camera, including a massive twister that crossed Alligator Alley on Interstate 75. Despite the high-profile nature of the storm, meteorologists won't have an exact tornado touchdown total until after the storm has passed.
More on Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton has officially made landfall in Siesta Key in Sarasota County.
The Category 3 hurricane is bringing life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains across portions of central and southwest Florida.
Right now, the hurricane is moving east-northeast at 15 miles per hour and is packing maximum sustained winds at 120 mph.
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
- Florida west coast from Flamingo northward to Yankeetown,
including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay - Sebastian Inlet Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia, including the
St. Johns River
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- Florida's west coast from Bonita Beach northward to Suwannee River,
including Tampa Bay - Florida east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line northward
to Ponte Vedra Beach
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- Lake Okeechobee
- Florida east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to the
Palm Beach/Martin County Line
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Keys, including Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay
- Lake Okeechobee
- Florida west coast from Flamingo to south of Bonita Beac
- Florida west coast from north of Suwanee River to Indian Pass
- Florida east coast south of the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to
Flamingo - North of Ponte Vedra Beach Florida to Edisto Beach South Carolina
- Extreme northwestern Bahamas, including Grand Bahama Island, the
Abacos, and Bimini
For more details on hazards affecting Tampa Bay, click here.