Tornadoes Batter Florida Panhandle as Massive Storm Sweeps Across Eastern US

The weather trough is expected to leave up to a foot of snow across the Midwest and Northeast, leaving some drivers stranded on highways.

A tornado left a path of destruction seen through portions of Panama City Beach, Fla. on Jan. 9, 2024 in this screenshot taken from aerial footage. Jimmy Patronis/Screenshot via X

A massive storm swept across the eastern United States on Jan. 9, stretching as far north as Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan and southward to Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, where tornadoes ripped apart buildings and overturned large vehicles.

The south saw winds upwards to 55 mph, with a wind gust of 106 mph recorded in Walton County, Florida, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).