Tracking Hurricane Milton | Scenes and aftermath from the massive storm that hammered Florida

Hurricane Milton weakened slightly Wednesday to a Category 3 after briefly regaining strength to a Category 5 storm Tuesday afternoon, making landfall near Siesta Key Wednesday night.

Milton brought powerful winds and a deadly storm surge near Sarasota County. The cyclone had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph as it hit the coast of Florida.

Well over a million people in Florida were without power according to poweroutage.us.

As Milton moves across the state, flash flood warnings have been issued in central Florida.
--------------------------------------------------
For more on the lead story: https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily...
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:

KOMO News on Facebook:   / komonews  
KOMO News on Twitter:   / komonews  
KOMO News on Instagram:   / komo4  
KOMO News on TikTok:   / komo4seattle  

Subscribe to KOMO on YouTube:    / @komonews  

Watch more top local news stories:    • Видео  

For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit http://www.komonews.com/
Watch our live newscasts and other live video at https://komonews.com/watch

Download our iOS App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/komo-...

Download our Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...

Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:

Email us: [email protected]
Call the Newsroom: 206.404.4000

KOMO News (ABC 4) provides the latest breaking news, sports, weather, traffic, and local event coverage in the Seattle and Western Washington/Puget Sound area including Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, Bellingham, Yakima, and surrounding communities

#komo #komonews #komo4 #komo4news #seattle #seattlenews #washingtonnews #Milton #forecast #hurricane #hurricanemilton #track #cat5 #category5 #weather #florida #tampabay #evacuation #helene #hurricanehelene #storm #miltonforecast #miltonhurricane #hurricanemilton2024 #hurricanemiltonlive #miltonhurricanelive
hurricane milton
milton hurricane
hurricane milton 2024
hurricane milton live
milton hurricane live

The National Weather Service is recommending that residents stay put and not drive as devastating rain and wind pushes through Florida.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton was about 190 miles southwest of Tampa and had winds of 130 mph as of Wednesday afternoon. It is expected to hit Florida as an "extremely dangerous" Category 3 when it reaches the Gulf Coast Wednesday night.

Landfall is now projected just south of Tampa near Sarasota with the area expected to experience wind gusts of over 100 mph.

Forecasters warned of a possible 10- to 15-foot storm surge in Tampa Bay. It is the highest surge ever predicted for that location and has led to evacuation orders for communities all along the coast.

Milton’s outer rainbands had already reached Florida and were expected to dump as much as 18 inches of rain while heading toward the Atlantic Ocean, the NHC said.

The National Weather Service on Wednesday morning issued a tornado watch, which includes a vast part of Florida, including the Tampa area, the Florida Keys and Miami-Dade County.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis provided an update about the impending Hurricane Milton Wednesday and doubled down on the need for residents to evacuate.

“Mother Nature is going to win that fight,” he said, adding that the southern part of the state will get hit with the highest storm surge. “If you’re anywhere in the eye or the south, you are going to get major storm surge.”

Evacuations were sent out in the state on Monday and there has been a 150% increase in traffic on Florida highways, he added. It was also noted that tolls will be suspended to make it easier for those evacuating.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell reiterated during a press briefing that FEMA is ready to respond and help the state of Florida.

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Milton was looking like "the storm of the century" and urged people in the path of the storm to "follow all safety instructions as we head into the next 24 hours."

Biden announced Monday he approved an emergency declaration for Florida, as well as ordered federal assistance to supplement response efforts that might occur due to emergency conditions from Hurricane Milton.

This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at [email protected]