13 people killed | At least 150 tornadoes reported across Florida
Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, pounding cities with ferocious winds and rain, and whipping up a barrage of tornadoes. It caused at least 25 deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit.
The storm tracked to the south in the final hours and made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night in Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa. While it caused a lot of damage and water levels may continue to rise for days, Gov. Ron DeSantis said it was not "the worst-case scenario."
Hurricane Milton brought powerful winds, a dangerous storm surge and flooding to much of Florida after making landfall along the Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm.
Here's a look at the damage from the storm.
More than 3 million customers are without power in Florida.
More than 50,000 linemen have been pre-staged across Florida to restore power, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
A portion of the roof at the Tropicana Field stadium in St. Petersburg was torn off amid high winds a short time ago.
Capt. Garth Swingle of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue told ABC News they have contact with the people inside and they are safe.
Milton remains a Category 2 hurricane, now with 105 mph winds.
The threats of extreme winds, flash flooding and life-threatening storm surge continue as Milton moves inland along Florida's west coast.
Milton is now a Category 2 hurricane, with 110 mph winds as it continues moving inland.
Siesta Key, a barrier island off Sarasota, is a prosperous strip of powdery, white sand beaches and picturesque sunsets, celebrated with a drum circle on Sundays.
Florida International University professor Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. "Dr. Beach," named Siesta Beach the United States' best beach in 2017, and MTV's "Siesta Key" gave audiences a reality-show view of the place in recent years.
Many of Siesta Key's about 5,500 residents are of retirement age.
