Hurricane Milton makes landfall near Sarasota. Half-million already without power

Source: Miami Herald

Updated October 09, 2024 8:41 PM


Hurricane Milton made landfall on Siesta Key just before 8:30 pm Wednesday evening as the Category 3 storm continued lashing the Gulf Coast with heavy rains, whipping winds while spinning off a string of tornadoes across much of the peninsula.

Milton’s eye had been pushing ashore for hours before the National Hurricane Center made the official landfall call on the barrier island along the coast of Sarasota County.

The hurricane came in just south of Tampa Bay, potentially sparking the heavily populated and vulnerable region from the worst flooding. But Tampa Bay and much of the Gulf Coast still faced whopping 120 mph sustained winds and higher gusts. And communities south of the landfall could see double-digit storm surge, including Fort Myers Beach and down to the Naples area.

Milton is expected to hold onto hurricane strength as it tears inland, crossing south of Orlando before spitting out near the Space Coast. The bulk of its rain — up to 18 inches in the worst spots — is due to fall north of the eye’s path, drenching the already-soaked central Florida area and sparking several flash flood warnings Wednesday night.


Read more: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article293736629.html