Hurricane Milton Makes Landfall in Florida, Bringing 120-mph Winds and Severe Storm Surges.

Florida residents were urged to take shelter as Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday evening near Siesta Key in Sarasota County. The powerful storm unleashed damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and dangerous storm surges throughout the region.

The hurricane, which initially reached Category 4 strength, brought massive waves up to 28 feet, destructive tornadoes, and intense flooding. By Wednesday afternoon, Milton had weakened slightly to a Category 3 storm, but the National Hurricane Center warned it could still be “one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.”

Power outages affected more than 545,000 customers across the state, according to PowerOutage.US. Authorities have strongly urged residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate to avoid “catastrophic” impacts, including up to 18 inches of rain and 15 feet of storm surge.

Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the danger, cautioning that even the most resilient Floridians may not withstand the storm. Meanwhile, local officials, including Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche, stated that first responders will have to halt rescue efforts once winds exceed 45 mph.

Key Developments:

• Hurricane Milton has made landfall near Sarasota County's Siesta Key.
• Giant tornadoes have been reported, and hundreds of thousands are without power.
• Catastrophic flooding is forecasted around Tampa, with some areas already seeing over 10 inches of rain.
• A reverse storm surge has pushed water out of Tampa Bay, but it may return rapidly when winds shift.
• Sanibel Island bridge is submerged, and storm surge continues to impact coastal areas.

As the storm moves further inland, communities from Tampa to the north-central Florida peninsula are bracing for “considerable threats to life and property” due to flash flooding. Rainfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour have already inundated parts of St. Petersburg and Bradenton.

Hurricane Milton is expected to continue its path across central Florida before moving off the state’s east coast by Thursday.