CNN reports:
The eye of Hurricane Milton, which traveled overnight from near the Tampa Bay area east toward Orlando and Cape Canaveral, is now moving past the Florida peninsula and exiting the east coast, according to CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam.
But the storm – currently a Category 1 hurricane – is still slamming parts of the coast with onshore wind that could create tornadoes along Florida’s Treasure Coast, Van Dam said. For instance, Daytona Beach is recording wind gusts of 83 mph. Storm surge of up to 4 feet is still possible along the coast as the storm departs.
Heavy rains also still pose a risk, with some places receiving months’ worth of rainfall within one day. Flash flooding is now being reported in Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located, stretching north and east toward Orlando where flood warnings are still in place.
Tampa’s CBS affiliate reports:
Hurricane Milton brought devastating rains and damaging winds through the Tampa Bay area, including the iconic Tropicana Field. Video shows the roof completely ripped off the top of the Trop, exposing the stadium lights and inner workings of the baseball field.
Tropicana Field, which is home to the Tampa Bay Rays, was previously hosting thousands of linemen and National Guard members as they prepared to respond to damage from the storm. Photos from earlier in the week show rows of cots covering the baseball diamond.
Newsweek reports:
Over 3 million Florida residences were left without power early Thursday after Hurricane Milton slammed into the state.
Law enforcement officials reported an unconfirmed number of fatalities related to the storm in Lakewood Park. St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson told WPBF-TV that there were deaths in Spanish Lakes Country Club Village, though the exact number was not yet known.
“We are going through the rubble,” Pearson told the station, adding: “It’s devastating. There are no words to describe it.” The National Water Prediction Service forecast that several rivers in and around the Tampa Bay area would reach major flooding status.
The Associated Press reports:
The storm tracked to the south in the final hours and made landfall Wednesday night in Siesta Key, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Tampa. The situation in the Tampa area was still a major emergency as St. Petersburg recorded over 16 inches (41 centimeters) of rain, prompting the National Weather Service to warn of flash flooding.
Storm surge remained a concern in many parts of Florida and tropical storm warnings were in place for much of the east-central coast. Officials in hard-hit Pinellas and Sarasota counties urged people to stay off the roads, warning of downed power lines, trees in roadways and blocked bridges.
Heavy rain and tornadoes lashed parts of southern Florida starting Wednesday morning, with conditions deteriorating throughout the day. Six to 12 inches (15 to 31 centimeters) of rain, with up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) in some places, was expected well inland, bringing the risk of catastrophic flooding.
Videos below are live. Tampa’s police chief this morning says that it appears that the city was spared its worst fears as Milton made landfall further south than expected. But he also cautioned that it’s still early.