Hurricane Milton Hits Florida, Causes Destruction and Power Outages

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday night, leaving a trail of destruction across Florida. The storm’s impact has led to millions of Floridians being without power as it wreaked havoc through various parts of the state.

Overnight, Tampa Bay experienced severe weather conditions, where residents faced the ferocity of wind and rain. According to the National Weather Service, areas in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties received approximately 17 inches of rainfall in just six hours, prompting a rare flash flood emergency. The intense winds also caused significant damage, uprooting large trees, tearing off a section of Tropicana Field‘s roof in St. Petersburg, and toppling a construction crane into a nearby building downtown.

To the south of Milton’s center, storm surges resulted in flooding along the coast with early reports of sea water inundating Charlotte Harbor, Venice, Punta Gorda, and Fort Myers. The full extent of the damage, particularly in barrier islands, remains unclear.

In the central and eastern parts of Florida, the hurricane spawned numerous tornadoes, resulting in an estimated 150 homes being destroyed. St. Lucie County‘s Sheriff confirmed fatalities, although the exact number of lives lost remains undisclosed.

Flooding is reported across Tampa Bay, as indicated by the National Weather Service’s area office, with particularly high waters making navigation challenging, especially with persisting power outages. Residents are advised to avoid flooded roads.

The Alafia River in Riverview experienced downed power lines and trees, rendering Park Drive impassable. However, the river’s flooding is not as severe as during the previous Hurricane Helene.

By 2 a.m. Thursday, Hurricane Milton was moving east-northeast through east-central Florida at speeds of 16 mph, sustaining winds of 90 mph, with its eye near Poinciana.

In Gulfport, the downtown area saw minimal damage from Milton, although heaps of debris left by Hurricane Helene days earlier remain. Local infrastructure endured relatively well amidst ongoing flooding.

St. Petersburg faced substantial wind damage, with trees downed across roads and a significant impact on routes from Gulfport to Historic Kenwood.

Damage reports from the Tampa Bay Times‘ office detail a considerable crane collapse, which demolished several stories of the building. Despite this, the St. Petersburg Pier was largely spared from severe damage.

Governor Ron DeSantis had earlier announced that Tropicana Field would serve as a support base for debris cleanup and first responder operations. However, the stadium itself suffered damage from the storm.

Residents of Spanish Lakes Country Club in Fort Pierce witnessed the destructive power of tornadoes, with homes destroyed and fatalities reported. Authorities continue to assess and address the situation across the state.