Hurricane Milton hits Florida: millions without power, casualties reported.

Hurricane Milton hits Florida

Hurricane Milton, which struck Florida on Wednesday evening, left a trail of destruction that is only beginning to be assessed on Thursday morning. More than 3.2 million households and businesses were left without power, and rescuers have begun operations to deal with the disaster's aftermath.

Milton made landfall near Siesta Key as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum wind speeds of 120 miles per hour. Although it weakened to a Category 1 by Thursday morning, heavy rains and winds continue to threaten much of the peninsula.

The tornadoes spawned by the hurricane proved to be particularly destructive. In St. Lucie County, several fatalities were reported due to a tornado hitting a retirement village. According to forensic meteorologist Pat Hyland, a record number of tornado warnings for a single day was recorded in Florida on Wednesday - over 120.

An emergency was declared in the Tampa Bay area due to flash flooding. A catastrophic rise in water levels of 9-13 feet was forecasted near Sarasota.

As of 7 a.m. Eastern Time, the hurricane center was located 10 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral, moving towards the Atlantic Ocean. However, the threat of flooding remains for many areas of the state.

Milton became the third hurricane to make landfall in Florida in 2024, following Hurricanes Helen and Debbie. According to Philip Klotzbach of Colorado State University, this year is tied with 1871, 1886, 1964, 2004, and 2005 for the number of hurricanes reaching Florida's shores in one season.

Rescuers urge residents to stay sheltered as they clear debris and assess the extent of the damage. In many areas, trees and power lines are downed, streets are flooded, and buildings are damaged.