Storm Leaves 3 Million in the Dark; Flash Flood Warnings Issued
Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 3 storm on Wednesday evening, bringing fierce winds, dangerous storm surges, and flooding rains. Striking near Siesta Key in Sarasota County, Milton pounded the west coast of Florida, already reeling from Hurricane Helene just weeks earlier. Winds exceeded 100 mph (160 kph), triggering a series of tornadoes across central and southern Florida, though Tampa was spared a direct hit.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed the storm made landfall with winds of 120 mph (205 kph) around 8:30 pm EDT. Siesta Key, a popular beach area home to 5,500 residents, faced the brunt of the hurricane. Numerous tornadoes were also reported across the state, according to The Weather Channel.
Homes Destroyed, Airports Closed
Kevin Guthrie, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, reported nearly 125 homes were destroyed before the storm hit, with many of them located in senior communities. Just before landfall, Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to shelter in place, stating it was too late to evacuate safely. Airports in Tampa and Sarasota were shut down due to the storm.
Videos circulated online showed the intensity of Hurricane Milton. The Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field suffered severe damage as the stadium’s fabric roof was torn apart by strong winds. Cranes also collapsed, and residents in St. Petersburg faced a water main break, leaving many without water.
Wow! My cousin sent this to me by a neighbor of his of the tornado that struck Wellington, FL from earlier today. Incredible speed & power that tornado possessed. #HurricaneMilton #flwx pic.twitter.com/QnF8hRQTQo
— Thee 🌪ornadorologist (@tornadorology) October 9, 2024
It’s astonishing that #Hurricane #Milton tore the roof off Tropicana Field.
Fortunately, the stadium was not filled with people at the time, but unfortunately, this means one major shelter is now out of commission.
Also, Lieutenant Dan is still alive and riding out the storm. pic.twitter.com/virTnE7S2w
— Thomas MORE (@ThomaMore) October 10, 2024
Power Outages, Storm Downgraded
Milton’s arrival knocked out power to nearly 3 million Floridians, according to poweroutage.us, with Sarasota County and neighboring areas hardest hit. Outages are expected to increase as the storm progresses.
Milton was downgraded to a Category 2 storm 90 minutes after landfall, and later to Category 1 early Thursday. However, flash flood emergencies remain in effect as heavy rain continues to inundate central Florida.
Third Major Hurricane in 2024
Milton is the third major hurricane to hit Florida this year, after Francine and Helene. This marks the first time since 2005 that the state has experienced three hurricanes in a single season. Experts say warming ocean temperatures may be fueling stronger and more frequent storms.