Tornado touches down in Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton landfall

A tornado reportedly touched down in South Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton's landfall on Wednesday.

Milton is now a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The National Weather Service Miami released pictures on Wednesday of a tornado crossing Interstate 75 while cars were driving.

Local news outlets reported that the Tampa Bay area is currently under a tornado watch until Wednesday evening.

According to the Associated Press, mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in 11 counties with a "combined population of about 5.9 million."