Hurricane Milton live: First deaths as monster storm smashes Florida

Hurricane Milton is pummelling Florida knocking out power to more than two million homes and stirring a “life threatening storm surge” amid reports of first fatalities after terrifying tornadoes.

Hurricane Milton has made landfall in Florida after battering the US state with high winds, heavy rain and destructive tornadoes.

Terrifying tornadoes spiralled off from Hurricane Milton, pummelling Florida in the hours before the storm crashed ashore at Sarasota, resulting in “multiple fatalities” in St. Lucie County, according to CNN affiliate WPTV.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said at least 19 tornadoes have been confirmed in Florida and 116 tornado warnings were issued across the state, with an estimated 125 homes destroyed.

Milton has been downgraded from a category 3 to category 2 storm with winds of 177km/h, according to the National Hurricane Center. Earlier was lowered from a category 5 to a category 3 with winds of 201km/h as it moved closer to Florida.

Flooding is underway across the state including in Naples and Fort Myers, where the storm surge has pushed water levels above 3 feet.

The hurricane is bringing heavy rain that experts said could put 700,000 homes at risk of flooding.

More than two million houses and businesses are without power and that number is set to rise as Milton moves inland.

In its 9pm (noon AEDT) update the National Hurricane Center warned of a “life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding” as “Milton moves inland along the Florida west coast.”

Taken by Greg Travers on SR80 a few minutes ago!

**Please take the Tornado Warnings we are issuing as fast as we can seriously!**

This is a very favorable environment for quick-moving and dangerous Tornadoes. https://t.co/mROCXoeq8Ipic.twitter.com/0AIX1iuOBl

— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) October 9, 2024

More than 6.5 million people were ordered to evacuate, turning cities along Florida’s west coast into ghost towns.

“Say you’re in a single-story home … 12 feet (3.6m) is above that house,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warned.

“So if you’re in it, you know, basically that’s the coffin you’re in.”

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon local time, US President Joe Biden said the hurricane remained a grave threat.

“Currently, Milton is a category 3. With wind speeds up to 120m/h. But no-one should be confused. It is still expected to be one of the most and worst destructive hurricanes to hit Florida in over a century,” the president said.

The formation of Hurricane Milton over the Gulf of Mexico. Picture: HANDOUT / NOAA / AFP

He added: “You know, both the heads of the national hurricane centre and the National Weather Service made it very clear in conversations I’ve had with them earlier today, Milton still carries incredible destructiveness. It can wipe out communities. It can cause loss of life. The storm surge is still expected to be up to 13 feet.”

Two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated Florida and other southern US states, killing at least 230 people, local emergency management chief Cathie Perkins said: “Those of you who were punched during Hurricane Helene, this is going to be a knockout.”

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Originally published as Hurricane Milton live: First deaths as monster storm smashes Florida