Hurricane Milton slams into Florida’s west coast with 120 mph winds, leaving 2M without power
SUMMARY
Hurricane Milton struck Florida's west coast on Wednesday night as a Category 3 storm, causing catastrophic winds and a life-threatening storm surge. Making landfall near Siesta Key around 8:30 p.m., Milton brought winds up to 120 mph, significantly downgraded from its peak of 180 mph as a Category 5 in the Gulf. As the storm battered the region, over 2.2 million residents lost power, with storm surges of up to 12 feet reported in Sarasota County. More than nine tornadoes tore through the area, resulting in fatalities and significant damage, particularly in Fort Pierce. While Milton weakened to a Category 2 by 10 p.m., its effects lingered across central Florida, with intense wind gusts exceeding 100 mph. In Tampa, winds ripped the fabric roof off Tropicana Field, where emergency personnel were staging for storm recovery. The storm is expected to continue impacting the region with severe rains and winds before moving out into the Atlantic.
