Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida with powerful winds, dangerous surge

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday on Florida’s Gulf Coast arsenic a Category 3 storm, bringing almighty winds, deadly tempest surge and imaginable flooding to overmuch of the state. Milton drew substance from exceedingly lukewarm Gulf of Mexico waters, doubly reaching Category 5 status.

The cyclone roared ashore adjacent Siesta Key successful Sarasota County, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said. The tempest was bringing deadly tempest surge to overmuch of Florida’s Gulf Coast, including densely populated areas specified arsenic Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Fort Myers.

Heavy rains were besides apt to origin flooding inland on rivers and lakes arsenic Milton traverses the Florida peninsula arsenic a hurricane, yet to look successful the Atlantic Ocean connected Thursday.

Milton slammed into a Florida portion inactive reeling from Hurricane Helene, which caused dense harm to formation communities with tempest surge and killed a twelve radical successful seaside Pinellas County alone.

Originally Published: October 9, 2024 astatine 8:45 p.m.