On Friday, meteorologists from the National Weather Service confirmed that Hurricane Milton has produced at least 41 tornadoes, but this number might increase as damage assessments continue.

For over a week, meteorologists from three weather service regions in Florida have been examining damage caused by the many intense tornadoes that tore off roofs, overturned mobile homes, and displaced vehicles. Tragically, one tornado resulted in six fatalities in St. Lucie County.

So far, Hurricane Milton, which hit Siesta Key, Florida, on October 9, is among the most tornado-generating storms recorded in recent times, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The current tally may place Milton as the 13^th most tornadoes produced by any hurricane in the U.S. since 1995, but final assessments are still ongoing.

If investigators in the Tampa Bay area discover evidence of even one additional tornado, Milton’s ranking would rise to 12th place, tying it with Hurricane Jeanne from 2004.

The strongest winds around Milton’s eyewall reached 180 mph just a day before it made landfall, although its outer bands began battering South Florida over 16 hours prior.

On Friday, meteorologists shared that three key conditions came together to fuel the creation of tornadoes, according to YSL News.

The occurrence of these tornadoes highlights a common warning from meteorologists that the effects of hurricanes can extend far beyond their center, stated Sammy Hadi, a meteorologist with the Miami weather service. Despite Milton’s center being nearly 300 miles southwest of Tampa at the time, the first tornado formed near Florida City, approximately 180 miles southeast of Tampa around 4 a.m.

‘The dirty side’ of the storm

According to Hadi, dry air, instability, and wind shear are the three primary elements that lead to tornado formation. As Milton approached South Florida, rotating supercell thunderstorms developed in its northeast quadrant, which had all these factors present.

The northeast quadrant is known to be where tornadoes are most likely, explained William Ulrich, warning coordination meteorologist for the Melbourne weather service. “This is why we refer to the eastern side as ‘the dirty side.’”

As Milton moved from west to east, Central and South Florida fell entirely into this hazardous northeast quadrant. Ulrich noted that wind shear, which is the change in wind direction and speed with height, is most intense in that area, but added that being on the northeastern side doesn’t guarantee tornado sightings.

In this event, however, all the necessary conditions aligned. The sun’s emergence that morning contributed to “destabilizing the atmosphere,” Ulrich said, resulting in “vigorous” thunderstorm activity.

Milton also interacted with a front boundary, enhancing changes in wind patterns, which facilitated the tilt necessary for tornado formation. Hadi noted that dry air was wrapping around the storm’s southern side.

How many tornadoes were triggered by Hurricane Milton?

The exact total may remain unknown. Tornadoes have appeared across expansive areas of the Everglades and other remote parts of South Florida, making surveys difficult, Hadi explained. “Accessing the swamp areas is challenging.”

Ultimately, the weather service in Miami documented 15 tornadoes, marking a record for the highest number in one day in the region, compared to the previous record of seven. Additionally, they set a new record for tornado warnings in a single day at 55.

At least two of the tornadoes in the Miami area moved into the Melbourne service region, where a total of 19 tornadoes have been recorded, including the two from Miami—another record for this 35-year-old office.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay weather service reported a total of nine tornadoes by Friday evening.

“There are still a few areas we haven’t reached yet to investigate for potential tornadoes,” stated meteorologist Jennifer Hubbard. “We intend to conduct more surveys on Monday and Tuesday as well.”

Hurricanes That Create Tornadoes

Since the introduction of Doppler radar in 1995, hurricanes and tropical storms have been responsible for generating over 1,700 tornadoes, as stated by Roger Edwards, a lead tornado forecaster at NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center.

This year, Milton has emerged as the second highest tornado creator. Previously, the hurricane Beryl produced around 65 tornadoes after making landfall along the Texas coast in July. Edwards has mentioned to YSL News that Beryl is expected to rank fifth in the number of tornadoes once a final analysis of the 2024 storm season is completed.

Most Tornado-Generating Hurricanes and Tropical Storms – 1995-2023

Winds from Hurricanes vs. Tornadoes

Meteorologists from the Tampa Bay area are observing damage from both the hurricane Milton and tornado winds. For example, the tarp covering Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, has sustained significant damage due to the storm.

To differentiate between hurricane damage and tornado damage, the weather service first examines the timing of the damage. Hubbard explained that they analyze specific locations for unusual damage patterns compared to surrounding areas.

“In several locations that we have surveyed, there are one or two homes with severe roof damage situated next to homes with only minor soffit or porch damage. This occurs in a linear pattern from street to street,” she stated. “We conduct surveys street by street along this line seeking a continuous pattern of higher damage until we identify the starting and ending points of the tornado’s track.”

Tornadoes Associated with Hurricane Milton

Surveys have confirmed three EF-3 tornadoes occurred during the storm.

The tornado that resulted in six fatalities in Spanish Lakes traveled over 21 miles near Fort Pierce and Vero Beach, reaching peak winds of 155 mph at its strongest point. This resulted in widespread destruction of manufactured homes, with the damage in Spanish Lakes classified as EF-2, indicating winds of up to 130 mph, according to Ulrich. The tornado displaced and overturned more than 20 manufactured homes in that area.

In Glades County, situated west of Lake Okeechobee, an EF-3 tornado struck with winds reaching 140 mph and traveled 15.46 miles. Reports indicate that this tornado severely damaged the upper floors of sturdy houses, crossed a road, destroyed the rooftops of homes built in the 1920s, and tossed around various manufactured homes and travel trailers, including a Ford Focus station wagon being flipped over.

One manufactured home’s chassis was astonishingly found wrapped around a tree at a height of 15-20 feet, while its contents were scattered 200 yards away. The tornado continued onto the Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation, causing damage to many traditional chickee huts and leveling parts of a sports complex.

In Palm Beach County, another EF-3 tornado produced peak winds of 140 mph and covered a distance of 28.95 miles, as reported by the weather service. At one point, in the Avenir community of Palm Beach Gardens, the tornado inflicted severe damage, collapsing a large segment of the roof of a newly constructed Publix supermarket and moving cars over 100 yards.