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At least 13 dead after Hurricane Milton hits Florida as Category 3 storm

13 people killed | At least 150 tornadoes reported across Florida

KFSN logo
Last updated: Friday, October 11, 2024 9:05AM GMT

Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, pounding cities with ferocious winds and rain, and whipping up a barrage of tornadoes. It caused at least 25 deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit.

The storm tracked to the south in the final hours and made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night in Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa. While it caused a lot of damage and water levels may continue to rise for days, Gov. Ron DeSantis said it was not "the worst-case scenario."

Key Headlines

Here's how the storm is developing.
Oct 10, 2024, 5:52 PM

PHOTOS | Hurricane Milton

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This image provided by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office shows an aerial view of the extensive flooding on Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office via AP

Hurricane Milton brought powerful winds, a dangerous storm surge and flooding to much of Florida after making landfall along the Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm.

Here's a look at the damage from the storm.

AP logo
Oct 10, 2024, 10:05 PM

More than 3 million without power in Florida

Cars move slowly after Hurricane Milton damaged power lines, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Matlacha, Fla.
Cars move slowly after Hurricane Milton damaged power lines, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Matlacha, Fla.

More than 3 million customers are without power in Florida.

More than 50,000 linemen have been pre-staged across Florida to restore power, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

ABCNews logo
1:13 AM GMT

Palm Beach Gardens tornado rated EF-3: NWS

A tornado that tore through Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, during Milton has been preliminarily rated EF-3 with winds of 140 mph, the National Weather Service in Miami said Thursday.

"Several strong tornadoes developed within rainbands associated with Hurricane Milton. This is the first and very preliminary EF rating for one of those tornadoes," the NWS said.

The tornado had a "relatively long track," and the EF-3 preliminary rating was "based on just one neighborhood which was also one of the hardest hit," the NWS said.

"Considerable structural damage" was seen in the Avenir community in Palm Beach Gardens, with damage to homes including large sections of roof torn off, it said.

The EF Scale estimates a tornado's intensity on a scale from 0 to 5, according to the NWS.

Storm surveys for Milton will take several days to complete, it said.

ABCNews logo
Oct 10, 2024, 10:02 PM GMT

No further impacts from Milton expected

Storm surge and tropical storm warnings for Milton have been discontinued, as the storm is racing out to sea.

ByJason Volack ABCNews logo
Oct 10, 2024, 9:54 PM GMT

At least 13 fatalities reported related to Milton

At least 13 fatalities have been reported in connection with Hurricane Milton, ABC News has assessed following multiple press briefings Thursday.

They include six deaths in St. Lucie County, where a dozen tornadoes were reported; four storm-related deaths in Volusia County; two deaths in St. Petersburg; and one death in Citrus County, where Florida Highway Patrol said a man died after colliding with a falling tree.

ByJason Volack ABCNews logo
Oct 10, 2024, 9:18 PM GMT

Over 725 people rescued in Hillsborough County

This image provided by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office shows an aerial view of the extensive flooding on Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.
This image provided by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office shows an aerial view of the extensive flooding on Hillsborough Ave. in Tampa, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said it received an unprecedented 356 emergency calls overnight.

Fire Rescue Chief Jason Ogden praised everyone who evacuated. No fatalities have been reported in the county.

"Conditions have improved since yesterday evening, but there's still a lot of water on the roads, downed trees and electrical lines everywhere," Ogden warned. "We have lifted the evacuation order, but I encourage everyone to return home safely. The last thing we want is an unintended death or significant injury."

"Traffic control devices are inoperable, so please treat intersections as four-way stops," Collins added.

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