Hurricane Milton made landfall on Wednesday evening at 8:30 p.m. near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm, bringing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (205 kph). The storm, fueled by exceptionally warm Gulf of Mexico waters, intensified to Category 5 status twice before weakening as it moved inland.
The National Hurricane Center reported that Milton's impact included deadly storm surges and tornadoes, with over 130 tornado warnings issued across the state. Communities such as Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota faced severe flooding and power outages affecting over 2 million residents.
As Milton continued its path through Florida, it was downgraded to a Category 1 storm early Thursday morning, but the National Weather Service warned that dangerous conditions persisted, including flash flood emergencies and significant wind damage.
The storm's rapid intensification and subsequent tornado activity highlight the increasing unpredictability of hurricanes, prompting concerns about future storms in light of climate change. Recovery efforts are underway as communities brace for the aftermath of Milton's destruction.