This is the tense moment a storm chaser plane encounters severe turbulence while collecting critical data as it flies into Hurricane Milton in Florida.

Footage shows the U.S. government aircraft called 'Miss Piggy' shaking so violently on October 8 that technicians' papers and tools flew onto the floor.

The Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said: 'Bumpy ride into Hurricane #Milton on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) WP-3D Orion #NOAA43 'Miss Piggy' to collect critical data to help improve forecasts and support hurricane research.

'Visit NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center and hurricanes.gov for the latest forecasts and advisories. There is info that can be used before, during, and after the storm.'

Three Florida offices of the National Weather Service in Miami, Tampa, and Melbourne issued more than 130 tornado warnings associated with the storm by Wednesday evening.

Hurricane Milton made landfall yesterday on Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm, bringing powerful winds, a dangerous storm surge, and potential flooding to many areas of the state.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said the cyclone had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (205 kph) when it struck Siesta Key, Florida, at 8:30 pm. The region is still reeling from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene.