Hurricane Milton made landfall on Wednesday evening near Siesta Key, Florida, as a powerful Category 3 storm, bringing sustained winds of 120 mph and torrential rain to the central west coast. The storm's impact was immediate and devastating, resulting in at least four fatalities linked to tornadoes that formed ahead of the hurricane.

As Milton moved inland, its strength diminished, and it was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane by Thursday morning, with winds reported at 85 mph. Despite this weakening, the storm continued to produce dangerous conditions, including damaging winds, flooding rains, and life-threatening storm surges affecting millions across the state.

Residents faced widespread power outages, with millions left without electricity. High winds were recorded along the Atlantic Coast, including gusts of 92 mph in Marineland and 87 mph in Daytona Beach. Storm surge inundated coastal areas, leading to moderate to major flooding along the St. Johns River, driven by a combination of storm surge and heavy rainfall.

Significant damage was reported, including the roof being ripped off Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, which was serving as a shelter for first responders. As conditions begin to improve throughout Thursday, the focus will shift to recovery efforts and assessing the extent of the destruction caused by Milton.

In summary, while Hurricane Milton has moved away from Florida, the aftermath of its wrath continues to pose risks, prompting officials to urge residents to remain vigilant for potential flooding and wind gusts as the storm exits the state.