Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida on Thursday, resulting in several fatalities due to a tornado that accompanied the storm. The exact number of those affected remains unclear. Nearly three million households are currently without power.
The fatalities were confirmed by the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, according to local news station WPTV. The deadly tornado was one of many that have formed around Hurricane Milton. Earlier, Governor Ron DeSantis reported at a press conference that at least 19 tornadoes had been confirmed, with 116 tornado warnings issued.
Milton made landfall in Florida around 2:30 a.m. (local time) as a Category 3 hurricane, bringing wind speeds of approximately 103 miles per hour (166 km/h). Ninety minutes after making landfall, it weakened to a Category 2 storm and has since downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.
In St. Petersburg, the storm delivered up to 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain within just three hours—equivalent to three months of rainfall in that area.
Milton marks the fifth hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. this year and the third in Florida. It has been described as one of the most destructive hurricanes of the century.
The tornadoes formed ahead of Milton when rain bands on the storm’s outer edges collided with a front over Florida, intensified by heat and dry air. These tornadoes caused significant damage, including roofs being torn off homes and buildings.
Evacuations and Public Shelters
Authorities issued evacuation orders for several areas along Florida’s west coast. Nearly 150 public shelters have been set up across the state, with Governor DeSantis reporting that 30,000 residents are currently taking refuge. The shelters have the capacity to accommodate over 200,000 people.
For those who did not evacuate in time, it is now too late to leave. The National Weather Service (NWS) has advised residents still in the hurricane’s path to shelter within their homes immediately.
