What is the truth behind the rare video of `wild waves` in the Florida sky as Hurricane Milton approaches?

Arab Weather - As Hurricane Milton escalated to Category 5 and approached the coast of Florida, social media users began sharing a video showing scary clouds off the coast of the state, claiming that the video is related to the impending storm.

But this video, which dates back to 2021, shows different clouds and is not related to the current hurricane, meteorologists have previously confirmed.

A rare natural phenomenon is observed in the state of Florida, US

As Hurricane Milton takes aim at the southern US washed by the Gulf of Mexico, unusual clouds appeared in the sky. pic.twitter.com/0hDjXPJFL2

— John Metzner (@JohnRMetzner) October 8, 2024

Old video with misleading information spreads

On October 7, 2024, a post circulated on the X platform announcing that Hurricane Milton had become a Category 5, accompanied by the misleading video. Similar posts also appeared on Instagram, sharing the video with the same claim, with Spanish versions, further spreading the misinformation.

Hurricane Milton and its forecast

Hurricane Milton intensified significantly on October 7, prompting evacuation orders in parts of Florida, particularly the Tampa Bay area, which is expected to be the epicenter of the storm on October 9. This is the second hurricane in two weeks, after Hurricane Helen hit Florida as a Category 4 storm.

The real video dates back to 2021.

A reverse image search showed the video was from June 2021, and shows a turbulent sky in the Florida Panhandle. It was recorded in Fort Walton Beach and is not related to the current storm. Meteorologists confirmed that the clouds seen in the video are asperatus clouds, which can form with regular thunderstorms and are not necessarily associated with hurricanes.

The video circulating on social media is not about Typhoon Miaton, but rather an old clip showing natural clouds. The misinformation surrounding this clip underscores the importance of verifying sources when following developments in natural disasters.

See also:

Devastating Hurricane Milton Continues to Move Toward Florida, Weather Conditions Could Be Worst in America in 100 Years

More than a million people evacuated in the United States due to Hurricane Milton