Hurricane Milton live updates: Monster storm pummels Florida after landfall
Posted/updated on: October 11, 2024 at 2:32 am
Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s west coast Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane. The monster storm roared ashore with life-threatening storm surge, powerful winds and flooding rains.
Here’s how the news is developing.
4 killed in tornadoes in St. Lucie County
Four people were killed by tornadoes in St. Lucie County on Florida’s east coast, county officials said.
“Numerous homes” have “suffered significant damage,” officials added.
25 minutes ago
Roof of Tropicana Field rips off
Wind gusts climbed to 97 mph in Tampa and 102 mph at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport as Milton slammed the coast.
Milton’s powerful winds even ripped part of the roof off of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.
A drone image above Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, show the shredded roof of the dome an…
Tampa Bay Times/ZUMA Press Wire via Shutterstock
View of the damaged roof of Tropicana Field stadium, the home of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays…
Octavio Jones/Reuters
Tampa hit with 1 foot of rain
Hurricane Milton’s heavy rains sparked a flash-flood emergency for the Tampa Bay area.
Tampa has recorded 1 foot of rain, while Lakeland — about 35 miles inland from Tampa — saw 10 inches of rain.
Fifteen people, including young children, were rescued from a Tampa home Wednesday night when a tree fell on top of the house and water rushed inside, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor on Thursday is urging residents to stay inside and off the roads, warning, “It’s not over.”
Over 2,200 flights canceled, at least 6 airports closed
Over 2,200 flights have been canceled across the country on Thurssday as Hurricane Milton pummels Florida.
The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Orlando Sanford International Airport, Palm Beach International Airport and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport all closed for the storm.
The Florida Division of Emergency Services said it has partnered with Uber to provide free rides to and from shelters.
Daytona Beach, Cape Canaveral experiencing flash flooding
More than 8 inches of rain pummeled Daytona Beach on Florida’s east coast overnight, causing flash flooding Thursday morning.
The flooding and hurricane-force wind gusts are ongoing from Daytona Beach to Cape Canaveral.
At least 36 tornadoes reported
At least 36 tornadoes were reported across Florida on Wednesday as Hurricane Milton came ashore.
There were 133 tornado warnings issued in South Florida — the most on record for the state and the second-highest for any state in one day.
Multiple fatalities were reported at a St. Lucie County retirement community following a suspected tornado, Sheriff Keith Pearson told ABC News.
Across the state, at least 125 homes have been destroyed, according to Kevin Guthrie, the head of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
A damaged home after a tornado touched down before Hurricane Milton’s arrival, Oct. 9, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida.
WZVN
More than 3 million without power in Florida
More than 3 million customers were without power in Florida Thursday morning.
Milton passing into Atlantic Ocean
Hurricane Milton is now heading out into the Atlantic Ocean as a Category 1 hurricane, having completed its swing across Florida.
The eye of the storm is now passing past Cape Canaveral, having taken less than eight hours to make its way across the Florida peninsula.
Wind speed remains at around 85 mph, with movement northeast at 18 mph.
-ABC News’ Kenton Gewecke
