Videos claiming to show tornadoes in Florida amid Hurricane Milton are unrelated, outdated
CLAIM
A compilation of dramatic videos has been widely shared on social media purported to show images of tornadoes produced by Hurricane Milton as it swept across Florida last week.
BACKGROUND
Several accounts known to spread misinformation and disinformation have shared a compilation of eight videos on different platforms. The videos, with the same onscreen caption, have been viewed thousands of times.
“October 9, 2024 Two large tornado producing supercells are moving north in southern Florida right now. Before Hurricane Milton landfall FL”, the onscreen caption reads.
The uploaders claimed the video showed devastating tornadoes in Florida during Hurricane Milton, which made landfall as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday, October 9, near Florida’s Siesta Key.
A version of the compilation was shared with the comment, “I have lived in Florida for thirty six years and never seen anything like this. Have you?”
Another uploader said “Please pray for Florida 🙏🏽This is NOT NORMAL‼️‼️ So far 7 🌪 have hit”
An article by The Mirror US featured screengrabs of some of those clips.
METHOD
A series of reverse image searches using Google Lens revealed that some of the clips were old, unrelated to the storm, or generated by computer.
The earliest version found of the first clip pointed to a YouTube account that shares computer-generated imagery, as described in its “about” section.
“Well, the tornadoes are indeed CGI, and are handcrafted using multiple apps and software. They are NOT AI”, according to the page.
The second clip, which shows a real tornado, was originally shared in 2022. It is related to a storm in Andover, Kansas.
The video was reshared by a YouTube blogger, who also shared other local news on the storm, including an interview from a local broadcaster with the uploader of the original video.
The blogger then interviewed the man, with footage showing the damage to his house.
The reverse image search indicated the third clip, showing the roof of a house being ripped off, was filmed in Arkwright, Chautauqua County, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, as reported by 13.abc WHAM.
The fourth clip, which shows the roof of a house being torn off, was shared several times back in April 2022 during a tornado reported in Bryan County, Georgia.
A version of this video, shared by meteorologist Kaitlin Wright, indicates it was first posted on Snapchat and reshared by a relative.
A version of the fifth clip has been shared at different stages, with the first one appearing to have been shared on TikTok in August 2023.
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The video was shared again at later dates, purporting to show a storm in Louisiana and California in September 2024.
The reverse image search of the sixth clip points to a video shared by meteorologist James Spann on August 19, 2024, showing strong winds in Auburn, Alabama.
Spann said, “Strong winds in association with the storm blowing through Auburn… video from Rustin Roberts”.
Due to the nature of the seventh clip, showing unclear images of palm trees swaying in strong winds, the reverse image returned several similar results, with this video showing the best matching images.
The uploader described it as showing Tropical Storm Nicole in Florida in November 2022.
Finally, the eighth clip pointed to a video shared in August 2023 related to Hurricane Idalia. The video shows the moment the cover of a petrol station was toppled in Perry, Florida.
Local media also reported on this incident at the time.
RATING
None of the clips in this video are related to Hurricane Milton, as claimed by social media users. Reverse image searches using Google Lens revealed the images were either generated by computer, were from other locations or referred to past storms.
SOURCES
– The Mirror US Hurricane Milton plunges two million into darkness in mass power outages across Florida https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/hurricane-milton-plunges-two-million-740666 [Accessed 15 Oct. 2024].
– YouTube.com (2024) UCV Tornado Compilation 🌪 #tornado #uncannyvalley #weather – [Accessed 15 Oct. 2024].
– Man films viral video of tornado hitting him head on – YouTube.com [Accessed 15 Oct. 2024].
– UPDATE: Man films viral video of tornado hitting him head on – INTERVIEW [Accessed 15 Oct. 2024].
– 18 tornado warnings issued in WNY amid severe storms; multiple tornadoes confirmed – 13.abc WHAM – https://13wham.com/news/local/gallery/record-breaking-18-tornado-warnings-issued-in-western-new-york-amid-severe-storms?photo=2 [Accessed 15 Oct. 2024].
– facebook.com INSANE TORNADO VIDEO – https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1316458798845936 [Accessed 15 Oct. 2024].
– facebook.com James Spann – https://www.facebook.com/spannwx/videos/1984546272002867 [Accessed 15 Oct. 2024].
– x.com – Tropical Storm Nicole arriving in South St. Augustine https://x.com/Jwbass13/status/1590692692526129152/video/1 [Accessed 15 Oct. 2024].