WATCH WPTV’S LIVE BROADCAST:

A tornado warning is in effect for southwestern St. Lucie County and southeastern Okeechobee County until 1:30 p.m

At 12:50 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Four Seasons Estates, or near Treasure Island, moving north at 30 mph.

Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties are under a tornado warning until 9 p.m. Wednesday as a Category 4 major hurricane, Milton, heads toward Florida, where it is expected to pass overnight Thursday will make landfall on the west coast.

The National Hurricane Center said “tornadic supercells” from Hurricane Milton were fired across South Florida on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service said a “dangerous tornado” touched down near the Miccosukee Service Plaza on Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley) near the Broward-Collier County line around 10 a.m

“This is certainly an overnight event Thursday morning,” said Jennifer Correa, meteorologist with WPTV First Alert Weather.

WATCH: Tornado lands live on WPTV

Tornado lands off Alligator Alley in Broward County

MORE WEATHER: radar | Warnings | 7 day forecast | Hourly forecast

There are mandatory evacuations along Florida’s west coast due to storm surge concerns. Loose debris from Hurricane Helene two weeks ago that has not been cleared or secured is life-threatening as it is whipped across the area by strong winds.

“Portions of St. Lucie County, Martin County, northwest Palm Beach County and the lake are at low risk for isolated flash flooding,” Correa said. “However, additional flash flooding is expected in northern portions of Okeechobee and Indian River counties.”

Tuesday will see increasing winds with isolated showers and thunderstorms, particularly in the afternoon and into the early evening hours.

The threat of tornadic conditions will increase Wednesday morning and the threat of tropical storm-force winds will persist Wednesday through Thursday.

Florida Department of Transportation

Correa said the strongest winds in our viewing area – particularly in Indian River and Okeechobee counties – will likely blow between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. Thursday. Then as we approach 10am and 12pm, Milton’s center will begin to subside and the wind will no longer be as breezy.

Moments later, WPTV was live as a tornado swept across I-75, a few miles west of US 27 in north-central Broward County.

“There it is. Wow!” WPTV First Alert Weather meteorologist Jennifer Correa said live on air. “It’s an impressive picture.”

Peyton said winds will become significantly stronger starting Wednesday afternoon, with gusts of 30 to 70 mph and an additional 1 to 3 inches of rainfall.

“The further north you go, the stronger the winds get,” Peyton said. “We will expect some wind gusts up to 75 mph, particularly near the peak overnight Wednesday into Thursday.”

Peyton added that strong winds and a threat of tornadoes could continue into Thursday. Drier air will finally make its way to South Florida starting Friday.