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On Wednesday, Hurricane Milton struck Florida as a Category 3 storm, lashing the state’s coastline with winds exceeding 100 mph (160 kph) and spawning multiple tornadoes. The storm landed in Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa, narrowly sparing the city from a direct hit. However, Tampa Bay experienced significant flooding, with St. Petersburg receiving over 16 inches (41 centimetres) of rain, prompting flash flood warnings.
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Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays, sustained severe roof damage, though it remains unclear if the interior has been affected. Over two million homes and businesses were left without power, with the worst outages in Hardee, Sarasota, and Manatee counties. Tornadoes wreaked havoc even before the storm made landfall, with the Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce suffering extensive damage. Sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed fatalities but declined to provide further details.
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Hurricane Milton is currently tracking east-northeast across Central Florida and is expected to reach the Atlantic by Thursday morning. In the aftermath of the storm’s landfall near Siesta Key, bands of heavy rain and strong winds spread across the state. A “flash flood emergency” has been declared in areas such as Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Riverview, where 10-17 inches of rain have fallen, leading to severe flooding. Tampa shattered its 100-year monthly rainfall record in a single day, with over 11 inches of rain. Multiple tornadoes have been confirmed in southern Florida, exacerbating the already extensive damage.
