13 people killed | At least 150 tornadoes reported across Florida
Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, pounding cities with ferocious winds and rain, and whipping up a barrage of tornadoes. It caused at least 25 deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit.
The storm tracked to the south in the final hours and made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night in Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa. While it caused a lot of damage and water levels may continue to rise for days, Gov. Ron DeSantis said it was not "the worst-case scenario."
Hurricane Milton brought powerful winds, a dangerous storm surge and flooding to much of Florida after making landfall along the Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm.
Here's a look at the damage from the storm.
More than 3 million customers are without power in Florida.
More than 50,000 linemen have been pre-staged across Florida to restore power, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
Hurricane Milton made landfall around 8:30 p.m. near Siesta Key, Florida.
The National Weather Service Doppler radar data indicated Milton made landfall in Sarasota County along the west coast of Florida as a Category 3 storm with 120 mph winds.
An estimated 125 homes have been destroyed amid a "life-threatening" tornado outbreak ahead of Milton's landfall, according to Kevin Guthrie, the head of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Florida's east coast has had "a lot of tornadic activity" that has resulted in structural damage, he said during a press briefing Wednesday evening.
Based on preliminary information, about 125 homes have been destroyed, "most of them mobile homes and senior communities," he said.
"So we're trying to get into Florida's most vulnerable to make sure we're they're taken care of," he added.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said there have been 116 tornado warnings issued on Wednesday, with 19 confirmed touchdowns.
The northern eyewall of Hurricane Milton has come ashore in Florida with 120 mph winds, the National Hurricane Center said.
"The northern eyewall of Hurricane Milton is beginning to move onshore of the Florida gulf coast near Tampa and St. Petersburg where an Extreme Wind Warning is now in effect. Please shelter in place as these extremely dangerous hurricane-force winds overspread the region," the NHC warned.
Pasco County Fire Rescue in Tampa has suspended all emergency service response in the area as Milton nears landfall, with officials saying, "It's no longer safe for high-profile rescue vehicles to be on the road."
"If you're in danger, please call 911 and provide details of your situation. We're constantly monitoring weather conditions and emergency crews will respond as soon as it is safe to do so," officials said.
