Hurricane Milton tracker: Path after landfall, latest radar
FLORIDA - Hurricane Milton moved off Florida's east coast early Thursday morning after making landfall Wednesday evening south of Tampa near Sarasota.
UPDATES ON HURRICANE MILTON: RADAR l LATEST l AFTERMATH
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The powerful storm brought destructive winds, widespread power outages affecting over three million customers and a significant outbreak of tornadoes across the Sunshine State.
Tragically, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, located on the state's east coast, confirmed "multiple fatalities" resulting from the twisters that swept through the region.
The hurricane’s power caused the National Hurricane Center and local National Weather Service offices to warn of a life-threatening storm surge that, in some communities, was forecast to eclipse records set during the 1920s.
Florida hurricane: Milton current radar
A three-hour radar loop showing where showers and thunderstorms are ongoing. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are indicated in yellow. Tornado Warnings are indicated in red, while Tornado Warnings with a confirmed tornado are indicated in purple. Flash F
Aftermath of Hurricane Milton: What's the latest?
The once-Category 5 hurricane formed in the Bay of Campeche on Oct. 5 and rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane within the system’s first 72 hours as a tropical cyclone.
Current info on Hurricane Milton. (FOX Weather)
Milton’s intensity made it the fifth-strongest cyclone on record in the Atlantic Basin, only falling short of records held by Wilma (2005), Gilbert (1988) Labor Day (1935) and Rita (2005).
A look at the peak wind gusts so far from Hurricane Milton. (FOX Weather)
Wind gusts reached 102 mph in St. Petersburg, Sarastota and Siesta Key, while the strongest gust in the state was 107 mph south of Sarasota around Venice.
A gust of 92 mph was also recorded in West Palm Beach, likely due to proximity to a tornado. As Milton raced across the Florida Peninsula overnight, an 84-mph wind gust was reported in Daytona Beach around 3:30 a.m. ET Thursday morning. Orlando also clocked a hurricane-force wind gust of 87 mph.
Power outages Florida
After racing through Central Florida overnight, Hurricane Milton emerged out over the Atlantic Ocean before sunrise Thursday, but the damage had already been done.
Due to the combination of damaging wind gusts and tornadoes, more than 3 million power outages were reported across Florida on Thursday morning, according to PowerOutage.us. More than 5,000 traffic signals are not operational because of outages and damage.
(A look at the current power outages in Florida. (FOX Weather))
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said about 50,000 linemen are working to restore power across Florida.
Hurricane Milton damage so far
In addition to the hurricane-force winds and storm surge, Milton triggered a historic and record-breaking tornado outbreak.
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Tropicana Field roof ripped off by Hurricane Milton: VIDEO
Tropicana Field, located in St. Petersburg, Florida, was not able to avoid the wrath of Hurricane Milton.
More than 120 Tornado Warnings were issued across Central and South Florida on Wednesday as Hurricane Milton's powerful outer bands found an atmosphere ripe for tornadic development.
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St. Petersburg construction crane falls from high rise during Hurricane Milton
A construction crane in downtown St. Petersburg came tumbling down as Hurricane Milton lashed the city.
One of the hardest hit areas was in St. Lucie County in Southeast Florida. Officials with the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office said there were "multiple" fatalities from tornadoes as part of the outbreak on Wednesday.
This graphic shows active Tornado Watches and Severe Thunderstorm Watches. (FOX Weather)
Following Wednesday evening's landfall, a Flash Flood Emergency was issued around the Tampa metro after more than 10 inches of rain was reported in less than three hours.
More than 720 water rescues were completed after Milton's landfall in Hillsborough County by fire rescue teams.
Milton Landfall (NOAA)
How many people died in Hurricane Milton?
At least 4 dead from Hurricane Milton
At least four people have died from Hurricane Milton. Damage was widespread across the state including flooding, downed trees, and cranes toppling over. Emergency crews rescued dozens of people overnight in some cities. Utility reports show millions of homes and businesses are without electricity across a large section of the state. FOX's Connor Hansen reports.
Milton is being blamed for at least 10 deaths across Florida, including five in St. Lucie County, one in Polk County and four in Volusia County.
According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, at least five people were killed in northern Fort Pierce during Wednesday's tornado outbreak spawned by Milton. Sheriff Keith Pearson said the victims were in Spanish Lakes Country Club Village, where a significant tornado moved through on Wednesday.
One death was confirmed to FOX Weather by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, though no other details on the fatality were immediately available.
The death toll rose to 10 on Thursday afternoon when two additional deaths were confirmed in Volusia County.
FOX Weather helped contribute to this report.