Hurricane Milton brings dangerous flooding after Florida landfall

Patricia Mazzei, Kate Selig, Audra D.S. Burch and Jenna Russell

The New York Times

2 Min Read

2 hours ago

Tropical storm-force winds from Hurricane Milton lashed cities on Florida’s western shoreline and spun up tornadoes across the state many hours before landfall. Credit: CALLAGHAN O'HARE/NYT

Hurricane Milton carved a path of destruction after crashing ashore Wednesday evening on Florida’s Gulf Coast, making landfall near Sarasota as the second powerful hurricane to pound the region in less than two weeks. The storm battered the state for much of the day, with heavy winds, pelting rain and a spate of tornadoes.

As Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, there was a brief, eerie calm in Sarasota — for about an hour, the whipping winds quieted, rain ceased, and the sounds of crickets chirping and frogs croaking could be heard. Then, the winds picked up again.

By around midnight, the storm had destroyed more than 100 homes, killed several people in a retirement community and ripped the roof off Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays.

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Forecasters warned that storm surge could reach up to 13 feet, and a flash flood warning was in place for several cities in the Tampa Bay region.

Most of Florida’s counties were under a state of emergency on Wednesday, and more than 2 million customers across the state had lost power. Emergency services were suspended in several counties.

People get groceries in preparation for Hurricane Milton in Cape Coral, Fla. Credit: PAUL RATJE/NYT

High winds from Hurricane Milton hit Yacht Club Beach in Cape Coral, Fla. Credit: PAUL RATJE/NYT

Paula Acosta, right, moves her dogs into Middleton High School as their family takes shelter from Hurricane Milton, in Tampa. Credit: KMILY KASK/NYT

Cars line up to fill up gas in preparation for Hurricane Milton in Cape Coral. Credit: PAUL RATJE/NYT

Damage from Hurricane Helene in Sarasota Bay, in Sarasota, Fla., on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. Credit: ZACK WITTMAN/NYT

There were more than two dozen reports of tornadoes or tornado-related damage from the storm in the state as of Wednesday night, according to National Weather Service. One tore through Spanish Lakes Country Club Village in Fort Pierce, on the Atlantic coastline, and killed several people.