As Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc in Florida, it spawned what experts described as deadly 'supercharged' tornadoes. At least nine tornadoes ripped through communities in a single county overnight, with three occurring in less than 25 minutes.
Storm chaser Jonathan Petramala, who witnessed the hurricane in St. Petersburg, noted the unusual nature of the tornadoes in Florida. Typically, tornadoes in the state appear as a wall of rain rather than the classic twister shape. However, the tornadoes generated by Milton resembled those seen in tornado-prone states like Oklahoma.
Oklahoma, along with states such as Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, experiences significant tornado activity each year due to favorable atmospheric conditions and geographic location. The warm waters in the region act as an energy source for storms, fueling their intensity and rapid development.
Milton's swift escalation to a Category 5 hurricane before making landfall underscores the importance of understanding the environmental factors that contribute to storm formation and strength.
