Video shows old footage, not July 7 'beach tornado' in Florida | Fact check
The claim: Video shows July 7, 2024, Florida 'beach tornado' footage
A July 7 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows a montage of tornado footage. The video's audio track includes traffic noises and people screaming.
"Florida beach tornado today #miami #tornado," the post is captioned. Text superimposed on the video also references a tornado in Florida "today."
The post was shared more than 1,600 times in five weeks.
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Our rating: False
There is no record of a tornado report or verified sighting in Florida on July 7, according to an area meteorologist. The clips in the video were posted online prior to July 7.
Video shows old footage
Cameron Pine, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Flordia, told USA TODAY there were no official tornado reports in Florida on July 7.
The first and third clips in the video have been online since at least early as April. The second clip has been online since at least as early as February. Other clips date to at least 2023.
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USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
The video was also debunked by PolitiFact and Lead Stories.
Our fact-check sources:
Cameron Pine, Aug. 6, Phone interview with USA TODAY
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No, video doesn't show Florida beach tornado from July 7 | Fact check