Hurricane Milton's Impact on Florida: Path, Damage, and Latest Warnings
Overview of Hurricane Milton’s Landfall and Path
After making landfall near Siesta Key on Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane, Hurricane Milton moved off the east coast of Florida early Thursday morning. Before its official landfall, Milton’s outer bands brought severe tornadoes, heavy rains, and winds that gave Floridians a preview of the destruction ahead.
Damage and Destruction Across Florida
As Milton surged across the state, west Florida endured 120 mph winds and torrential downpours, strong enough to tear the roof off Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Currently, Milton remains a Category 1 storm, with sustained winds at 80 mph as it moves into the Atlantic.
Central Florida continues to experience strong wind gusts over 80 mph, especially in areas along the east coast. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) advisory places Milton around 135 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral, moving east-northeast at 20 mph.
Milton's Strength and Forecast
Although Hurricane Milton is beginning to weaken as it moves out to sea, it retains its hurricane status with maximum winds at 80 mph. As it travels further into the Atlantic, the storm will lose its tropical characteristics and gradually dissipate.
Active Warnings and Watches for Florida
Here are the current alerts and warnings as Hurricane Milton moves away from Florida:
- Flood Warnings: Seminole County until noon.
- Storm Surge Warnings: Sebastian Inlet, FL, to Altamaha Sound, GA (including St. Johns River).
- Hurricane Warnings: Florida east coast from Sebastian Inlet to the Flagler/Volusia County Line.
- Tropical Storm Warnings: Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard counties, from Sebastian Inlet, FL, north to Edisto Beach, SC, including parts of the Bahamas (Grand Bahama Island and Abacos).
Milton’s Impact and Death Toll
So far, four fatalities have been confirmed in South Florida due to tornadoes spawned by Milton’s outer bands. As officials continue to assess the damage, this number may change. The St. Lucie County area reported two tornadoes that caused severe destruction, demolishing buildings and devastating neighborhoods.
In St. Petersburg, hurricane-force winds brought down a crane, and in Central Florida, multiple communities experienced flash flooding. Power outages are widespread, with thousands of residents waiting for power restoration.
Milton's Aftermath: Widespread Flooding and Power Outages
As the storm recedes, flooding and power outages remain significant issues. Central Florida saw flash flood warnings as saturated soils couldn’t handle additional rainfall. Many counties are grappling with outages, and the extent of the damage will become clearer once officials complete inspections.
Stay updated on Hurricane Milton and track ongoing power outages using our interactive map below.
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For continuous coverage and the latest weather forecasts in Central Florida, tune in to WESH 2. Stay informed about severe weather alerts with insights from First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi and the First Warning Weather Team, including Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda, and Cam Tran.
Severe Weather Resources:
- Radar Tracking
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We’ll continue to provide timely updates as Hurricane Milton's aftermath unfolds.
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