Death toll rises to at least 16
Officials have confirmed at least 16 people have died in Hurricane Milton.
The death toll is expected to rise in the coming days as emergency personnel in Florida assess the damage caused by Milton’s brutal passage through the state.
So far, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has confirmed there have been 16 fatalities, reports the BBC.
NASA checks for storm damage as Milton delays Europa Clipper launch
NASA has confirmed that it is currently inspecting its iconic Kennedy Space Centre which is located in Cape Canaveral, Florida, for any damage in the wake of the Hurricane.
Once the winds subsided to a safe level, the centre’s Ride Out Team and engineering teams began initial checkouts to ensure bridges are safe and useable,” Nasa said in a statement, adding that they will later “thoroughly check the entire centre”.
As a result of Milton’s arrival, Thursday’s planned launch of the Europa Clipper has now been postponed. The science spacecraft had been due to launch to head for Jupiter’s icy moon Europa.
As part of it’s mission, when it does finally launch, the spacecraft will seek to find out whether the ice-encased moon contains a salty “ocean” of water below its frozen surface, and whether it could potentially support human life.
Milton storm surge reached 5-10 feet in areas
According to the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, the highest storm surge observed by Milton was between 5-10ft.
“Preliminary post-landfall analysis of storm surge from Hurricane Milton indicates peak water levels reached 5 to 10 feet above ground level between Siesta Key, FL and Ft Myers Beach, FL, including Charlotte Harbor,” the NHC said in a statement.
Ahead of the hurricane’s arrival which hit the coast of Florida in the early hours of Thursday morning (UK time), officials had warned that storm surge levels could reach as high as 15ft, but thankfully fell short of this estimate.
Meanwhile, all tropical and storm surge warnings have since been discontinued.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds join stars donating to hurricane relief efforts
Hollywood actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are the latest stars to donate to a disaster relief fund, helping those affected in the wake of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in the US.
The couple donated one million dollars (£765,000) to Feeding America, after Milton made landfall on Wednesday night in Florida as a Category 3 storm with winds of more than 100mph (160kph).
It comes a day after it was announced their friend, pop superstar Taylor Swift, donated five million dollars (£3.8 million) to the same charity.
Feeding America chief executive Claire Babineaux-Fontenot praised the couple for their donation to the relief fund to help victims “rebuild and recover” as hurricanes devastated the south-east region of the US.
“Their longtime support of Feeding America in times of crisis has helped our network on the ground before, during and after disasters,” she said in a statement on X.
“These funds will help food banks provide basic needs like water, ready to eat food and supplies to communities facing heartbreaking loss and a long recovery.”
Major flooding poses huge risk in aftermath of Milton
Although Hurricane Milton has now passed through Florida, officials have still urged residents to stay inside as several areas have been struck by major flooding.
The deluge of water continues in Hillsborough County, on Florida’s west coast; St. Johns, near Jacksonville; and the Little Wekiva River in the Orlando region, said Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Water levels in the affected areas are also expected to continue to rise, with a further storm surge expected along the east coast.
“Roadways are flooded, and the potential for hazardous conditions with them still exists. Please do not walk or drive through them,” Guthrie said in a plea for people to stay at home.
He added that people should not visit affected areas because they are inhibiting first responders from doing their jobs.
So far, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has confirmed that at least 340 people and 49 pets have been rescued, with hundreds of rescuers dispatched to missions in 26 counties.
US Coast Guard confirms rescue of man stranded at sea who clung to freezer for survival
The US Coast Guard has confirmed that it rescued a man clinging to a freezer in the Gulf of Mexico off South Florida – several hours after losing contact with him on Wednesday evening.
A helicopter crew stationed in Miami rescued the man, who was about 30 miles away from the shore in Longboat Key, near Sarasota.
He was transported to Tampa General Hospital for medical treatment following the ordeal.
Death toll rises to ‘at least 12’ as rescuers dig through debris
Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm, whipping up storm surges with wind speeds over 120mph, causing widespread flooding and building damage across the central belt of Florida.
As rescuers have dug through the rubble and searched through the floodwaters, the death toll has continued to rise. So far, there are “at least 12″ people confirmed to have died, but some US media channels are reporting 16 known fatalities.
Six of these people killed by the storm died before Hurricane Milton struck Florida, with the then-Category 5 Hurricane spawning dozens of devastating tornadoes across the state – including in St Lucie on the east coast where half a dozen have been confirmed dead after a direct tornado hit.
But rescuers are still searching for missing people in the quiet but now flattened retirement village, Spanish Lakes. Sheriff Keith Pearson said: “We’re still conducting rescue missions, where we’re trying to get to people as fast as we can, but we don’t know what we’re going to uncover.
“It’s a complete devastation, so we’ve been working around the clock, hundreds of search-and-rescue teams going through rubble.”
Biden urges ‘shelter in place
While Hurricane Milton has passed, millions of Florida residents still face fresh flooding threats and ongoing power outages in the powerful storm’s wake.
While the immediate threat is over, President Joe Biden is urging people in flooded Florida to remain in a safe location while 50,000 rescuers work to restore power and get trapped residents to places of safety.
In Biden’s message to the nation, he told Floridians, “Help is on the way” and promised, “We leave no one behind.”
Stranded tourists offered ‘$10 sandwiches’ by Disney World
With widespread flooding still in place across Orlando and the rest of Florida, thousands of stranded tourists found themselves in a foreign country sheltering from a once-in-a-century storm.
But amid the fear and disappointment that many visitors to Disney World experienced after park bosses were forced to close the resort, Wednesday, there was also considerable anger at $10 “sandwich kits” offered to those sheltering from the life-threatening storm.
Hungry guests at Disney World, already angry at the loss of an expensive holiday, were offered these kits in lieu of having the sandwiches made for them.
Each kit included a full loaf of bread. some peanut butter, and some strawberry jam – giving each tourist the chance to experience a handmade American PB&J, so long as they did not mind making it themselves.
Top CNN anchor battered live on-air
Footage shows the moment a CNN reporter was hit in the face while reporting outside on Hurricane Milton.
While reporting live from Bradenton, Florida on Wednesday night, anchor Anderson Cooper was pelted amid his coverage of the hurricane’s fury.
Battling the elements, Cooper said, “The water now is really starting to pour over,” as he braved the conditions by the Manatee River. A projectile hit him square in the face mid-broadcast, causing him to recoil.
(
CNN)
Joe Biden takes swipe at Trump, says his predecessor is spreading ‘misinformation’
President Joe Biden is again criticising his predecessor, Donald Trump, for spreading misinformation about the federal government’s hurricane response efforts, declaring “Get a life, man.”
Addressing reporters Thursday about Hurricane Milton’s destruction, Biden said he wouldn’t call Trump directly. But asked what his message would be for Trump, Biden squared his shoulders and more directly faced the camera.
“Mr. President Trump, former President Trump, get a life man,” Biden said. “Help these people.”
The White House, and Biden personally, have spent days decrying Trump for making false claims about disaster response, including that federal funding is being diverted for use on people in the country illegally and that such assistance is capped at $750 (£574).
Storm surge from the Peace River damages homes
In Punta Gorda’s historic district, a 10-foot surge from the Peace River swept blocks inland, seriously damaging homes and depositing six 30-foot-plus boats along a quarter-mile stretch of a riverside street.
The surge was the third to hit the neighborhood the last three months, following a small surge by Hurricane Debby in August and an 8-foot surge by Helene two weeks ago.
Josh Baldwin’s 38-foot boat, Alexandra, named after his young daughter, was sitting upright on the street, resting on its hull and flattened propeller, leaning against a utility pole.
The cattle rancher had moored his boat at the marina about 100 yards (91 meters) away and the surge had picked it up and pushed it inland, pulling it off its moorings.
He said he was at home in Sarasota, 60 miles (97 kilometres) away on Thursday morning, when a friend sent him a screenshot of a TV reporter doing a live shot from in front of it.
A few hours later, he was inside removing all the gear that he could to avoid it being stolen and contemplating his options – pay $100,000 to fix the boat or scrap it. He was leaning toward scraping it.
He couldn’t get insurance because he had moored it in Punta Gorda.
“They don’t like to pay out and this place always gets ruined in hurricanes,” he said.
A police officer looks on at a crane collapse in downtown St Petersburg (
AFP via Getty Images)
Florida theme parks planning to reopen on Friday following Hurricane Milton
Florida’s famous theme parks including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld are planning to reopen on Friday after an assessment of the effects of Hurricane Milton.
Disney World said in a statement that its theme parks, Disney Springs, and possibly other areas will be open. The parks said some Halloween special events won’t be offered and they won’t necessarily be fully functioning Friday, but the public is welcome back.
As Milton came ashore as a major storm Wednesday, all three Orlando-based parks shut down, putting a damper on the vacations of tens of thousands of tourists, many of whom hunkered down in hotels. SeaWorld closed for all of Wednesday, Disney World and Universal for the afternoon. All three were closed all day Thursday.
Orlando International Airport, the nation’s seventh busiest and Florida’s most trafficked, stopped commercial operations Wednesday morning and had not yet announced a reopening time as officials assessed damage Thursday.
With the parks closed, miniature golf was among the few activities available to tourists who had been locked down in their hotel rooms and rental condos during the storm. There was a line getting into Congo River Golf on International Drive, a major tourist strip.
Craig Greig of Glasgow, Scotland, would have been at the Magic Kingdom with his wife and 10-year-old if the theme parks had been open. Instead he was clutching a putter ready to putt golf balls over a man made lagoon filled with baby alligators.
“We just wanted to stretch our legs and get out of the hotel,” he said. “Especially for the little one.” Even though it was his first experience with a hurricane, he was unfazed and slept through the night as it roared through central Florida.
Disney World, Universal and other attractions make Orlando the United States’ most visited destination, drawing 74 million tourists last year alone. And Halloween-related celebrations have made October one of the busiest and most lucrative times for the parks.
Watch: Man risks death as he plants Trump Flag on pier during Hurricane Milton
A foolish Donald Trump fan risked his life by braving the hurricane winds and rushing on to a pier and tying up a flag in support of the ex-president’s 2024 bid for the White House.
Category 3 Hurricane Milton made landfall on Wednesday night with winds of over 100mph and crossed across the state, causing at least four deaths and leaving millions without power. Damage was widespread and water levels may continue to rise for days, although the destruction is not as horrific as first feared.
Despite the danger, one foolish man risked everything when he tied a flag to a pier in Naples, Florida, amid the howling wind and rain. Beneath him, the sea raged as the intense winds battled against the waves. The man attempts to secure it upon the pier’s structure and successfully manages to do so. As he walks off, the flag prevails against the harsh winds; though it’s unclear how long it lasted.
Read more: Man risks death as he plants Trump Flag on pier during Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton: Man plants Trump flag on pier during storm
How bad is Hurricane Milton’s damage?
Officials in hard-hit Florida counties were urging people to stay home, warning of downed power lines, trees in roads, blocked bridges and flooding.
Before Milton even made landfall, heavy rain and tornadoes lashed parts of southern Florida, and over 100 homes were destroyed.
The Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce, on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, was hit particularly hard, with homes destroyed and at least five people killed in tornadoes, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said.
The storm knocked out power across a large section of Florida, leaving over 3 million homes and businesses without electricity, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports.
In St. Petersburg, a crane working on a 46-story building toppled and a water main break led the city to shut down service. Also, the roof of the city’s Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team, was destroyed. Just inland from Tampa, the flooding in Plant City was “absolutely staggering,” according to City Manager Bill McDaniel.
Meanwhile, a manufacturer of IV fluids critical to hospitals nationwide said its Daytona Beach factory and distribution center were left intact after Milton.
A crane collapsed into a building in downtown St. Petersburg (
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Urban legend explains why one city wasn’t directly hit by Hurricane Milton
One large city in Florida managed to avoid being directly hit by Hurricane Milton – and locals believe they are protected by a blessing.
Those living in Tampa on the state’s west coast say mounds both sacred and burial, near a pier and deriving back to the 16th Century have huge significance. Spirits are said to have blessed Tampa residents at those mounds over the centuries and so it is thought hurricanes always veer north or south and make landfall elsewhere.
And Tampa, home to around 400,000 people, has not been directly ravaged by any hurricane since 1929. Hurricane Irma killed 134 people in 2017 – but Tampa did not bear the significant brunt of Irma. None of the ten people killed by Hurricane Milton are thought to have been from Tampa.
Urban legend explains why one city wasn’t directly hit by Hurricane Milton
Mystery as birds drop dead out the sky on to cruise ship after hurricane
Dozens of birds dropped dead out of the sky on to the deck of a cruise ship stuck out to sea as Hurricane Milton bombarded Florida.
The Category 3 storm made landfall on Wednesday night with winds of over 100mph and crossed across the state, causing at least 10 deaths and leaving millions without power. Damage was widespread and water levels may continue to rise for days, although the destruction is not as horrific as first feared.
One person, stuck out to sea aboard a cruise ship unable to dock because of the high winds, shared a shocking video showing thousands of birds flying over the vessel. Sadly, many came crashing down to earth and were filmed dead on the ship.
Mystery as birds drop dead out the sky on to cruise ship after hurricane
Hurricane Milton: Hundreds of birds fall from sky onto cruise ship
Mum’s ‘difficult decision’ to stay at home despite order to evacuate
Jackie Curnick said she wrestled with her decision to stay at home in Sarasota, just north of where the storm made landfall. She and her husband started packing Monday to evacuate, but they struggled to find available hotel rooms, and the few they came by were too expensive.
With a two-year-old son and a baby girl due on October 29, Ms Curnick said there were too many unanswered questions if they got in the car and left: Where would they sleep? Would they be able to fill their petrol tank? And could they even find a safe route out of the state?
“The thing is it’s so difficult to evacuate in a peninsula,” she said ahead of the storm. “In most other states, you can go in any direction to get out. In Florida, there are only so many roads that take you north or south.”
Video taken during the storm showed howling winds and sheets of rain lashing their glass-enclosed swimming pool as their son and dog watched. Trees shook violently.
Hurricane Milton death toll climbs to nine
At least nine people are dead after Hurricane Milton made landfall, officials have told network NBC.
The death toll increased after Volusia county sheriff Michael J. Chitwood confirmed three people died in his jurisdiction.
There were two storm-related deaths in the city of St. Petersburg and at least four people died in St Lucie.
Shocking pictures show the damage caused to Tropicana Field stadium
These shocking pictures show the damage caused to Tropicana Field stadium during Hurricane Milton.
The dome of the multi-purpose arena was torn open due to the huge gusts. Photos taken using a drone show the damage caused to the building in St Petersburg, Florida.
At least four people were confirmed killed as a result of two tornadoes triggered by Hurricane Milton on the east coast of the US state of Florida, local authorities said.
A drone image shows the dome of Tropicana Field which has been torn open due to Hurricane Milton in St Petersburg (
AFP via Getty Images)
Man, 90, sweeps four feet of mud and water after Hurricane Milton
The tiny barrier island of Matlacha just off Fort Myers got hit by both a tornado and surge from Hurricane Milton, with many of the turquoise, salmon and lavender buildings sustaining serious damage.
Several collapsed or are knocked off their pilings. Utility poles are snapped and there was no power Thursday morning. The fishing and tourism village also got severely hit by Hurricane Helene two weeks ago and Ian two years ago.
Tom Reynolds, 90, spent Thursday morning sweeping out the four feet of mud and water the surge deposited in his two-storey home and collecting the large chunks of his home’s aluminum siding that had been ripped off by the tornado. Fortunately for Mr Reynolds and others working outside Thursday, the temperatures were in the low 80s (mid-20s Celsius) and Milton had sucked away all the humidity.
The tornado, he said, had “picked up a car and thrown it across the road.” A house had been blown into another street, temporarily blocking it. Some structures caught fire.
Reynolds, who founded the glass and mirror company his son now runs, said he lost many of his power tools – he had stored them high in his shed, but the surge knocked it over.
He said plans to clean up his house, which he built three decade ago, get it fixed and stay.
“What else am I going to do?” Reynolds said.
Residents of Matlacha walk amongst the wreckage left in the wake of a previous hurricane (
Getty Images)
Residents call on Altamonte Springs to do something to stop repeated flooding
In the Spring Oaks neighbourhood of Altamonte Springs north of Orlando, an impromptu lake formed from floodwaters on a residential street near Rupert and Ernine Gonzales’ split-level home.
They have lived in their house for 22 years, but never saw flooding until two years ago with Hurricane Ian. Now, it’s becoming more regular. “The city must do something about this flooding, 100%,” Rupert Gonzales said.
“People here have gotten flooded, relocated, come back and gotten flooded again. It’s a way of life, it seems.” Soon or later, people won’t want to buy homes in his neighborhood, Gonzales said. “I’m very concerned because I have to live here and I have to see this flooding every time.”
Multiple dead and millions without power after Hurricane Milton strikes
Multiple people have been killed and more than three million have been left without power after deadly Hurricane Milton savaged its way across Florida.
Despite the deaths and fears that Mother Nature was set to unleash the “storm of the century” on the Sunshine State, with some predicting it to be worse than Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the winds weakened as they came ashore, saving hundreds more lives.
Thousands of Brits were forced to take shelter, with hundreds being ordered to evacuate their holiday hotels and homes. Teresa Outhwaite, 51, from Hove, East Sussex, owns a house on Anne Maria Island and was forced to flee the area to Orlando before Milton hit.
The mother-of-two arrived in Florida on Monday to meet her insurance appraiser and assess the damage Hurricane Helene inflicted on her property two weeks ago.
Multiple dead and millions without power after Hurricane Milton strikes
Florida handed brand new Category 3 Hurricane Nadine warning hours after Milton
Hurricane Milton will give way to a successor storm just hours after it ripped Florida apart, with weather forecasters warning that a new system tentatively dubbed Potential Hurricane Nadine could reach Category 3 strength.
Florida officials said Milton has killed at least four people since making landfall overnight on Wednesday, with videos and pictures showing towns and counties across the state being torn apart by hurricane-force winds. Residents have been warned to find shelter, with state Governor Ron DeSantis saying that 80,000 people were evacuated to shelters yesterday.
The hurricane has calmed since exploding onto US soil, dropping from a Category 4 to a Category 1. But forecasters have now warned that Potential Hurricane Nadine could exceed the already dangerous benchmark. Jim Dale, the senior meteorological consultant for British Weather Services, told the Mirror that the “unstable atmosphere” caused by warm Caribbean seas could create a new “tentative” Category 3.
Florida handed brand new Category 3 Hurricane Nadine warning hours after Milton
A traffic light pole is down in downtown Orlando, Florida, due to Hurricane Milton (
AFP via Getty Images)
MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa remains closed, US Air Force says
According to the US Air Force, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa was evacuated as of Wednesday, and remains closed.
The base, which is home to US Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command, has about 185 personnel working at an emergency operations center out of Raymond James Stadium.
There were 13 KC-135 aircraft evacuated to McConnell Air Force Base, and other aircraft remained in hangars or away on military missions. A hurricane recovery team is enroute to the base to begin assessing damages and Air Forces Northern is working to provide civil air patrol flyovers to get an aerial view of the base.
Aircraft were also moved out of Patrick Space Force Base but there was no personnel evacuation ordered. Space Launch Delta 45 has a team doing damage assessments. Seven F-16 fighter jets from the 482nd Fighter Wing were moved from Homestead Air Reserve Base to San Antonio, Texas.
The US Navy said there was “negligible damage” at the Mayport, Jacksonville and Kings Bay naval bases and they are expected to return to normal operations on Thursday.
Hurricane Milton hero ‘Lieutenant Dan’ claims ‘I’ve had more eventful nights’
Hurricane Milton hero ‘Lieutenant Dan’ has broken his silence after defying orders to leave his boat last night as he declared: “I’ve had more eventful nights.”
Joseph Malinowski, who lost a leg in a car accident at the age of 16, defiantly ignored evacuation orders in Tampa Bay, Florida, and decided to stay in his 20ft boat throughout the storm. After the hurricane made landfall, Lieutenant Dan, who has become an internet sensation after refusing the police’s offer to get into a shelter, said Milton was “awesome” and even claimed it wasn’t as strong as Hurricane Helene two weeks ago.
Lieutenant Dan admitted he was a bit tired after the storm and said he was looking forward to sleeping – but described his evening in the middle of the storm as “uneventful” and “mellow”. Joe, who lives on his fishing boat, said: “It was pretty good, I mean it wasn’t too bad.”
Hurricane Milton hero ‘Lieutenant Dan’ claims ‘I’ve had more eventful nights’
Joseph Malinowski, known online as Lieutenant Dan, refused to evacuate his boat (
X)
More than 3,000 flights cancelled and delayed
More than 3,000 flights have been canceled and around 400 have been delayed after airports closed their doors ahead of Hurricane Milton, NBC reports.
A number of airports across impacted regions remain closed.
Terrifying moment tree falls on a moving car
A shocking video shows a tree hit by strong winds from Hurricane Milton falling on a moving car.
Officials from the City of DeLand posted the clip on X and wrote: “One of our officers was driving behind this vehicle when a tree suddenly fell. Thankfully this driver is OK, but this is a reminder that conditions will continue to deteriorate as Hurricane Milton impacts Florida.”
Drone image shows devastating impact of floods
A drone image shows a badly flooded street in Siesta Key, Florida. Some homes appear to be almost entirey under water whilst debris can be seen floating along the street.
A street shows some properties almost entirely under water due to Hurricane Milton (
AFP via Getty Images)
‘Give me a break’ says Governor after he’s told about cost of damage
Florida governor Ron DeSantis was asked about reports that the damage from Hurricane Milton could end up costing more than $50bn (£38bn).
A journalist asked him during a news conference what DeSantis thought about the figure, estimated by a Wall Street analyst, to which he replied: “How the hell would a Wall Street analyst be able to know? It’s been dark all day. Give me a break on some of this stuff.”
He adds: “They’re doing damage assessments now, they always say this or that or whatever. I’m not saying there’s not going to be damage, there will be. But in terms of right now, the morning after, if I think back to Hurricane Ian, I don’t think you’re looking at a similar amount of damage.
“With Helene, there may end up being more overall, there may not, but definitely the surge did not reach Helene levels.”
At least two arrested for looting during storm
A representative from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Committee says two people have been “arrested for looting” and battery on a law enforcement officer.
He says more than 42 rescue missions have been carried out, and that search and rescue efforts are “ongoing”.
More than 40 rescues have been done in the storm’s wake
Roger Young, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, says his agency has deployed more than 130 officers who’ve teamed up with many others for search and rescue operations, which are ongoing Thursday morning.
In addition, they’ll be going door to door in some areas to check on people.
Water levels in many Florida rivers are forecast to continue rising
Ron DeSantis has revealed many Florida rivers are forecast to continue rising after the storm brought up to 18 inches of rain in spots in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area.
Because of the amount of water, people may see flooding happen not just now but in the subsequent days, he said.
“We will better understand the extent of the damage as the day progresses,” DeSantis said at a Thursday briefing. “The storm was significant but thankfully, this was not the worst case scenario.”
DeSantis was speaking at the state Emergency Operations Centre in Tallahassee.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis gives major update – watch live
The governor of Florida has issued a major update as thousands of people have been hit by Hurricane Milton.
Ron DeSantis has addressed frantic citizens following days of shocking weather conditions which have battered the US state. It comes after Floridians were earlier urged to evacuate their homes due to strong gusts of winds and extreme flooding expected to wreck homes across communities.
Officials issued further alerts after it was revealed that multiple had tragically died in St. Lucie County. Sheriff Keith Pearson earlier said: “Unfortunately, I do have to report that we do have multiple fatalities,” he said.
Watch here
Boat turns up at car park after being swept away in Hurricane Milton
In Punta Gorda, Florida, boats ended up on the street after being swept up and carried away in last night’s hurricane.
The storm swept into the Siesta Key area of Florida, before causing damage and flooding throughout Central Florida.
Ron DeSantis to give update in next few minutes
The Florida governor is expected to begin a press conference with the latest updates on the disaster response in the state at 1.30pm (BST).
Dramatic boat rescue in flood-hit area
Water from storm surges is said to have reached chest height in Clearwater, Florida, which has been one of the worst-hit areas by Hurricane Milton.
Photographs from the scene this morning show rescue crews using a boat to evacuate a block of flats that became flooded from an overflowing creek.
‘The cats were running around crying’
A British expat living in Florida has shared her terrifying experience of being hit by Hurricane Milton.
Jan, who did not wish to share her surname, is 68 and lives in Palmetto, Florida, but grew up in Edmonton, north London.
Speaking about encountering Hurricane Milton on Wednesday evening, the retired technical writer in IT told the PA news agency: “The power went out about 9pm. Something hit the house at 9.30pm and we’ve lost tiles from the roof.
“I got this emergency radio about three or four months ago and was telling us what was happening as it was going on – the wind was going up to about 101 miles an hour and I think up until midnight, we had about 10 inches of rain.
“All the fire alarms went off and the one in the bedroom was dripping water – the cats were running around crying and scared because of the noise.”
She said she also has no internet and is unsure when it – and her power – may return and is unable to use most of her appliances, and will be heavily reliant on using a grill outside to cook meals.
Nail-biting footage shows moment children evacuated from hurricane-hit home
A clip shared by Tampa Police Department has captured the moment 15 people were hurriedly evacuated by police officers as fierce winds and torrential downpours battered their home.
The officers ran into the house during a break in the storm before taking the occupants, which included multiple children, to a local shelter.
Chief Lee Bercaw said: “Every member of this department is committed to the safety of our community. The swift actions taken by these officers during a break in the storm bands provided this family with a sense of safety in a time of fear and uncertainty.”
Four dead after tornado hits caravan park
Four people died when a tornado struck a senior mobile home community in St. Lucie County last night, it has been confirmed.
Erick Gill, a spokesman for the county in Florida, told CBS News Miami that they had died at the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village near Fort Pierce.
He added that as many as 12 tornadoes tore through the area yesterday evening in the space of just 20 minutes, and described the impact of the hurricane as “like nothing other we’ve seen”.
More people left without power
The estimated number of people left without power as a result of Hurricane Milton has risen to 3.25 million, according to PowerOutage.us.
Weather forecasters had warned of extensive disruption to power networks in Florida after the storm, and said this could potentially take weeks to fix in the worst-hit areas.
Chicago Bears trip to London delayed due to Hurricane Milton
The Jacksonville Jaguars plan to arrive to London later than expected tomorrow because of Hurricane Milton, the team confirmed ahead of Sunday’s game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against the Chicago Bears.
A team spokesperson said on Thursday that the team’s departure time has been “slightly” delayed.
Huge wall of rain heading for Britain in just days after major Atlantic storms
A huge wall of rain is heading towards Britain days at the weekend, just days after Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc in Florida, with a major emergency declared in the southeasternmost US state.
Ventusky maps show precipitations of up to 4mm per hour over Ireland and Northern Ireland late on Sunday, with rain hitting Britain in the early hours of Monday. Wet conditions are expected in Scotland, northern England and southern England on Monday, with some coastal areas experiencing over 5mm of rain.
Huge wall of rain heading for Britain in just days after major Atlantic storms
Woman reveals frightening scene inside flat as it’s lashed by hurricane
A woman believed she would be safe from Hurricane Milton on the 11th floor of her apartment complex – but soon spotted the flat was “taking on water”.
TikTok user @morganroos96 revealed she has since pulled the blinds down and laid out towels on the floor of her flooding apartment.
She had believed her home in Tampa was capable of withstanding the storm and flooding as she was well above ground level, but even on the 11th floor it appears her home is flooding.
Woman in 11th floor flat thought she was safe from Hurricane Milton – but spots issue
Multiple residents trapped in overturned cars and under debris
Multiple residents in Palm Beach County were rescued after becoming trapped under debris from tornadoes that battered the region on Wednesday night.
Some were stuck in cars that were overturned by strong winds, according to the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. The force said in a post on Facebook: “Our crews on the scene reported several damaged homes, vehicles picked up and moved, and debris all over the area.”
Five people, including three trauma patients, were taken to local hospitals, while several others were treated for minor injuries, CNN reports.
Flood warning as more heavy rain expected
Officials at the US National Hurricane Center have said that while Hurricane Milton itself has now moved out into the Atlantic, “dangerous” weather impacts are expected to linger across parts of Florida over the next few hours.
This includes more heavy rain, which could lead to flooding in the northern peninsula.
The NHC’s latest update reads: “Heavy rainfall across the central to northern Florida Peninsula through this morning continues to bring the risk of considerable flash and urban flooding along with moderate to major river flooding, especially in areas where coastal and inland flooding combine to increase the overall flood threat.”
Hurricane moving off the coast of Florida – but public urged to avoid windows
The National Hurricane Center has confirmed that Hurricane Milton is now clearing from the coast of Florida into the Atlantic ocean.
But the US government agency warned that it is still “producing damaging hurricane-force winds and heavy rains”.
“Residents are urged to remain in an interior room and avoid windows”, a spokesperson added.
New photo shows shredded roof of baseball stadium
An aerial view shows the major damage to the roof of the Tropicana Field stadium in downtown St Petersburg after Hurricane Milton.
No injuries were reported inside the stadium, which is home to the Tampa Bay Rays, according to local officials.
Hurricane Milton forces Brits to evacuate and abandon dream holidays
Brits are sheltering in their holiday homes or fleeing as the ferocious Hurricane Milton sweeps across Florida.
Five people who found themselves in the path of destruction were the Ball family, who were on a holiday from their homes in Billericay, Essex to celebrate their daughter overcoming leukaemia.
Read here: Hurricane Milton forces Brits to evacuate as eerie footage shows deserted Disney World
Terrified local films transformer exploding just feet away amid Hurricane Milton
Shocking footage shows the moment terrified locals filmed a transformer exploding just feet away from their homes as Hurricane Milton made landfall with dangerous 115mph winds.
The video shows the transformer, which alters the voltage of an electrical current as it moves between circuits, explode on a residental street in Bradenton, Florida.
The explosion continues for nearly a minute as loud bangs can be heard, with residents filming the incident just yards away.
Watch the video: Terrified local films transformer exploding just feet away amid Hurricane Milton
Over 70,000 staying in shelters overnight
Tens of thousands of people have slept in evacuation shelters overnight, the US government’s disaster management agency has said.
After revealing 70,000 were currently using the facilities, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told BBC Radio 4’s Today show: “The wind, even though it’s decreasing, the threats are not decreasing.”
“With the increased amount of rain, with the threat of flash flooding happening, you need to stay put. Don’t go out, try to make sure you’re as safe as possible.”
Met Office explains how Hurricane Milton will affect UK weather forecasts
While some people may worry about Milton crossing the pond, the Met Office has largely dispelled any fears that it may do so in a recent forecast.
The agency expects the storm will enter Atlantic open waters and start moving towards the British Isles, but that it’ll weaken significantly as it makes the crossing.
The forecast states that remnants of Milton will likely be absorbed into oceanic air masses en route to the UK, or possibly dissipate altogether. The Met Office predicted: “Milton is expected to weaken to a tropical storm once over the open waters of the Atlantic and transition into an extratropical storm after it passes to the south of Bermuda.”
Met Office reveals how Hurricane Milton will affect UK weather forecasts
Worst case scenario avoided but full extent of damage not yet clear
Hurricane Milton has caused damage across Flordia and left two people confirmed dead – but it seems to have avoided the dreaded ‘worst case scenario’ feared by experts.
After reaching intense wind speeds of over 160mph over the Gulf of Mexico, it was feared that Milton could be one of the most devastating storms to ever hit the US mainland.
But it had appeared to slow down somewhat on approach to Florida, and the hurricane was reduced from a Category 5 to a Category 3 storm by the time it made landfall.
Nevertheless, major flash flooding and strong winds brought by the storm have posed a clear danger to life overnight, and the true extent of the damage will become clear after sunrise, which is about two and a half hours away.
Iconic newspaper office badly damaged after crane blown over by Hurricane Milton
An iconic newspaper building saw catastrophic damage as “smoke billowed out” after a crane fell into the Tempa Bay Times following Hurricane Milton.
Langston Taylor, a data editor at the newspaper, revealed staff were working through the night covering the hurricane when the huge crane fell into the office.
He wrote: “Tampa Bay Times staff working through the night covering Hurricane Milton from all our safe houses are now facing the fact that, uh, that big ole crane in Downtown St. Pete fell into our office building.”
Iconic newspaper office badly damaged after crane blown over by Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton approaches Cape Canaveral as new update issued
The US National Huricane Center has issued a new update in the last few moments, confirming that Hurricane Milton has now slowed to 84 mph as it prepares to move off the east coast of Florida.
[4am EDT Oct 10] Hurricane #Milton continues to produce strong winds across the east coast of Florida, as the center of the hurricane nears Cape Canaveral.https://t.co/LQEVorqXZH pic.twitter.com/fopsEmVJKW
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 10, 2024
Major baseball stadium badly damaged
Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team, appeared to be badly damaged overnight in the storm.
Television images showed the fabric that serves as the domed building’s roof had been ripped to shreds. The baseball club said 13 people were inside the stadium at the time but no one was injured.
The Rays’ stadium was not being used as a shelter, but the Tampa Bay Times reported that it was being used as “a staging site for workers” who were brought to the area to deal with the storm’s aftermath.
The stadium opened in 1990 and initially cost $138 million (£115 million). It was due to be replaced in time for the 2028 season with a $1.3 billion (£1 billion) ballpark.
Hurricane Milton’s path mapped
This map shows where Hurricane Milton has struck so far – and highlights some areas of the state (in red) where over 90% of the population has been left without power.
Hurricane also felt outside US
New photographs show huge waves have crashing against the Malecon promenade in Havana.
Cuba is one of the countries to have felt the effects of Hurricane Milton following its passage through the Gulf of Mexico, with storm surges causing flooding around some suburbs of the capital.
Tense wait until morning when full extent of damage will become clear
The sun is set to rise in about four hours’ time in central Florida, where Hurricane Milton has destroyed homes, flooded streets and left millions without power.
Two people are also confirmed to have died in a series of tornadoes which preceded the hurricane.
The full extent of the damage caused by Milton is likely to only become apparent in the morning, when daylight will make conditions clearer and flood waters begin to recede.
Scene at evacuation centre as thousands take shelter
Thousands of people have spent the night away from home at evacuation centres as Hurricane Milton brought destruction to the state of Florida.
At Virgil Mills Elementary School in Palmetto, people spent the night at a school with their pets, sleeping on air mattresses.
Lightning strikes hundreds of times in ‘insane’ Hurricane Milton satellite clip
This is the terrifying moment satellite video shows hundreds of lightning strikes hitting Florida as Hurricane Milton made landfall.
The remarkable footage was captured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s GOES East satellite and shows the astonishing lightning strikes hitting the state.
The NOAA Satellite & Information Service posted the stunning clips on X, writing: “This imagery from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s GOES East satellite is providing visible cloud imagery every 30 seconds of Hurricane Milton as it pushes closer to Florida. Notice the frequent lightning being picked up by the satellite’s #GLM instrument as well.”
Watch the video: Lightning strikes hundreds of times in ‘insane’ Hurricane Milton satellite clip
Huge power cuts leave millions in darkness
In towns across central Florida, entire streets have been plunged into darkness due to the hurricane, creating an additional hazard on top of high winds and floodwater.
Over 2.6 million homes have been left without power overnight.
Flash flood emergency continues
It’s 2am now in Florida, where several feet of water have inundated roads, homes and businesses across central parts of the state.
The water is expected to gradually recede over the coming hours, though emergency responders are urging people not to go outside until it is safe to do so.
‘Please stay sheltered’ officials urge despite storm weakening
Officials in Pinellas County, Florida, one of the worst affected areas from Hurricane Milton, have urged people to stay in their shelters due to the danger posed by power lines and flooded roads.
#Pinellas: Remain off roadways until further notice. Numerous live lines down, debris, and damage reported. First responders remain off the road as it is still dangerous. Numerous reports of flooding as well. Please stay sheltered! #Milton pic.twitter.com/cDSbNCHoaw
— Pinellas County EM (@PinellasEM) October 10, 2024
Hurricane Milton weakens to Category 1
Milton has now weakened further and is now a Category 1 hurricane, according to the US National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) latest advisory.
‘Waist-high water’ as flash floods hit
Huge flash floods in Sarasota, Florida have inundated streets with water up to people’s waists, local reports have said.
The full extent of the damage is not expected to be known until the morning, when the water has subsided.
Cancer patient describes moment she saw water hit cables under her hospital bed
A cancer patient in a Florida hospital has described seeing her hospital room flooded by surges from Hurricane Milton – leaving cables under her hospital bed soaked in water.
Elaine told the Tampa Bay Times: “All these cords were laying in the water and I thought, ‘Oh my god’”. She said that nurses told her all they could do was absorb the water with towels, and that leaks had been affecting the building all evening.
Warnings over downed power lines and floodwater
People in affected areas have been told to be careful of downed power lines and floodwater as they inspect damage from the hurricane.
Anyone who spots a damaged power line has been asked by authorities to report it immediately. Flood water can meanwhile change in level quickly, and can be contaminated with bacteria and sewage following the storm.
Heart-stopping moment crane topples over
This is the heart-stopping moment an inner city construction crane topples over as Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida with terrifying wind speeds exceeding 100mph.
Shocking video shows the crane being pushed over by the ferocious gusts and then lying on the ground surrounded by debris in St Petersburg.
Watch the video: Heart-stopping moment crane topples over as ferocious winds exceed 100mph
TV weatherman battered by hurricane in bizarre footage
A TV weatherman was left barely able to stand upright this morning as he reported outside in 100mph wind gusts which hit Bradenton, Florida.
Robert Ray, a correspondent for Fox Weather, could be seen in a bike helmet and goggles as he attempted to deliver his bulletin.
Rain and debris peppered FOX Weather Correspondent @RobertRayWx as Hurricane Milton slammed Florida Wednesday night. Robert and his team provide a raw, behind-the-scenes look at conditions on the ground, as winds gusting over 80 mph were measured nearby. https://t.co/w3anhWJYT9 pic.twitter.com/M5ziv8dwJ2
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) October 10, 2024
Flash flood emergencies declared
Damaging winds from Hurricane Milton have been accompanied by heavy rainfall, and the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood emergency statement for portions of west-central Florida.
Flash flood emergency statements generally mean life-threatening catastrophic water rising events are already underway or expected to occur in the immediate future.
Millions left without power
More than two million homes and businesses are without power in Florida, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports.
The highest number of outages were in Hardee County, as well as neighboring Sarasota and Manatee counties.
More pictures of collapsed crane
New photos have showed the damage inflicted by a crane which collapsed into an office building in St Petersburg.
The building houses the offices of the Tampa Bay Times newspaper, who say there have been no injuries to its staff.
Floods hit Fort Myers
Streets in Fort Myers, Florida have been inundated with water after Hurricane Milton made landfall overnight.
Many people in the city have also lost power.
‘Devastating winds and damaging winds’ to continue
Hurricane Milton will continue to bring “devastating rains and damaging winds” across central Florida today before clearing to the Atlantic Ocean later in the day, the National Weather Service says.
The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of about 105 miles per hour (165 km/hour) at 11 pm local time on Wednesday, according to the weather service, and storm surge warnings were in effect for parts of Florida’s western and eastern coastlines.
The weather service said Boca Grande, Florida, could see a surge as high as 13 feet above ground if it hits at the same time as high tide.
The service also said tornadoes were possible through early Thursday morning over parts of central and eastern Florida.
Multiple tornadoes spawned by the storm killed two people and caused major damage to several communities on Wednesday evening before the hurricane made landfall.
Crane collapses in major city
Fire officials say a crane has collapsed in downtown S. Petersburg, Florida.
The crane was at the site of a 515-foot-tall luxury high-rise building under construction that is being billed as one of the tallest buildings on the west coast of Florida. It was scheduled to be completed in summer 2025.
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue issued a statement saying the crane collapse and roof damage at Tropicana Field were among two critical reports it had received of damage after Hurricane Milton made landfall south of the city.
The site of the crane collapse is about six blocks from the city’s pier.
St. Petersburg is about 50 miles north of Siesta Key, where Milton made landfall.
More than 2 million homes without power as Milton heads east
Hurricane Milton is heading east across the centre of Florida, leaving destruction and growing storm surges in its wake.
With 100mph wind gusts tearing down power lines and lightning strikes taking out transformers, more than two million homes are without power in the dead of night. This equates to one fifth of households in the affected area.
A map of the power outages caused by the now-Category 2 hurricane shows blackouts spreading across the state overnight.
Video shows havoc caused by giant falling crane
A crane in central St Petersburg was pulled over by the extreme force of the wind gusts that blasted the city as Hurricane Milton made landfall, appearing to cause severe damage to a building as it fell.
Videos circulating on social media show part of the crane’s body resting on the side of a building that appears to have suffered serious damage. Other parts of the crane, which previously towered over a nearby high-rise building, can be seen strewn across the street after being sent flying by 100mph gusts.
Miraculously, no one was injured.
@BN9 400 Central Crane pic.twitter.com/VCIMB4KWbN
— Joe Lovell (@JT_L0VE) October 10, 2024
‘Multiple fatalities’ caused by earlier tornadoes
St. Lucie County sheriff confirmed “multiple fatalities” reported after a tornado tore through the area earlier today.
Sheriff Keith Pearson announced that several individuals lost their lives at the Spanish Lakes Country Club, a community predominantly inhabited by seniors.
The exact death toll remains uncertain at this time as Hurricane Milton tears through Florida’s central belt.
“We have dozens of homes in St. Lucie County that have been damaged, some catastrophic damage,” St. Lucie County spokesman Erick Gill said.
City shuts off drinking water supply
One of the worst affected areas in Hurricane Milton’s path so far has been St Petersburg, a city of around a quarter of a million people on Florida’s west coast.
In addition to falling cranes and damaged stadiums caused by wind gusts of around 100mph, storm damage is causing city officials to completely shut off all drinking water supplies from midnight local time.
A “major water main break” has forced officials to take the step, which will make life even more difficult for the residents who decided to shelter in place. They admitted the issue cannot be fixed until it is safe for workers to carry out repairs.
In the meantime residents, many of whom are affected by power cuts, have been told to boil any water before they use it.
How Hurricane Milton smashed into Florida’s west coast
Hurricane Milton unleashed its fury on Florida’s west coast as a Category 3 storm, making landfall at Siesta Key on Wednesday night (1.30am GMT). The idyllic barrier island, known for its pristine white-sand beaches and a population of roughly 5,500, is situated approximately 70 miles south of Tampa, and received a direct blast from the devastating weather system.
However the more damaging effects of Hurricane Milton were almost immediately felt elsewhere on Florida’s east coast with vast storm surges bringing up to 10 feet of water to heavily populated parts of the sunshine state. Terrifying wind speeds of 120mph were recorded on the coast, with the hurricane even briefly draining the seafront of Tampa Bay completely dry.
100mph wind gusts tear roof off stadium and send giant crane flying
Hurricane Milton has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm as it makes its way inland, but wind gusts of around 100mph are continuing to cause further devastation on Florida’s west coast.
Residents in St Petersburg who are sheltering in place, in defiance of multiple evacuation orders and requests from officials, have shared pictures of the mayhem caused by the high winds.
The winds have torn the roof off the Tropicana Field baseball stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, and sent a giant crane flying in central St Petersburg.
No injuries have been reported.
A crane at 400 Central just fell into the office building at 490 1st Ave S. This is the view from McNulty Lofts pic.twitter.com/p5nKRDyw0s
— YIMBY St. Pete (@yimbystpete) October 10, 2024
Florida police save abandoned dog from hurricane blast
Before Milton hit Florida, state troopers patrolling the highway spotted something troubling by the side of the road – a dog that someone had cruelly tied up and left.
Thankfully, the kind cops were able to save the quivering pooch and bring it indoors, before Hurricane Milton struck.
Tampa seeing ‘flash flood emergency’ as Milton unleashes deluge
The National Hurricane Centre has issued an update as Hurricane Milton devastates the central belt of Florida, with extreme flash flooding pouring through Sarasota and Tampa.
The public body has issued a “flash flood emergency” warning for the Tampa area, as the hurricane begins to move inland. It leaves behind communities that are dealing with up to 10ft of storm surges and sustained wind speeds over 100mph.
Roughly 10 to 14 inches of rain have already fallen across these coastal communities, and a further six to eight inches are forecast to fall in the coming six hours as storm waters surge across the west coast.
Multiple fatalities have already been confirmed by US authorities, with tornadoes in St Lucie County spawned by the hurricane flattening homes and leaving an unconfirmed number of people dead.
Eerie video shows Tampa Bay DRY
Communities across western Florida are experiencing extreme storm surges of up to 10ft of water and flash flooding pouring through communities, but near to the centre of the now-Category 3 Hurricane, eerie footage shows the seafront of Tampa Bay completely dry.
With torrents of water drawn up by the 175mph wind speed of Hurricane Milton, the waters have almost completely receded, momentarily, from Tampa Bay, close to where the storm made landfall.
The water has been sucked out of Tampa Bay by Milton.
Happened fast. pic.twitter.com/8ghtF5SZYx— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) October 10, 2024
Extreme rainfall and surging waters devastating Florida’s west coast
Pictures from Florida’s west coast are showing apocalyptic storm surges as Hurricane Milton makes landfall.
A Venice resident has shared footage of floodwaters pouring through the town, while other areas are reporting up to 10ft of flash flooding.
“Between 6 and 12 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly,” the Tampa National Weather Service warned.
“Life-threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.”
There are now roughly 770,000 people without power across the state.
Meanwhile, as the eye of the storm passed over Sarasota and brought a brief respite, some residents were seen getting into their vehicles and doing donuts in the street, knowing that the police would not come out in the dangerous conditions, according to NBC.
Storm surge is absolutely pouring into Venice, Florida now as hurricane #Milton makes landfall. pic.twitter.com/jnp8KzStjk
— Bryce Shelton (@BryceShelton01) October 10, 2024
Hurricane Milton makes landfall
Hurricane Milton has officially made landfall, hitting Siesta Key in Florida as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 120mph and gusts up to 140mph. It will slowly move from west to east across the central belt of Florida, at full hurricane strength.
More dangerous and life-threatening than the immediate wind speeds are the vast storm surges now being seen across Florida’s west coast, devastating Tampa Bay, Naples and St Petersburg with flash floods of up to 10ft.
Half a million people in this area are now also without power, while emergency services have warned in advance of the hurricane that they will not be able to rescue anyone who has remained behind, after repeated warnings about the deadly force of Hurricane Milton, which built into a rare Category 5 as it made its way across the Gulf of Mexico.
‘Catastrophic’ flooding in Tampa as Milton hits
Hurricane-force winds of around 90mph are being reported in the Tampa Bay area, where Hurricane Milton is starting to make landfall.
As the Category 5 storm approaches and lessens to a Category 3, tornadoes and storm surges have already wreaked havoc across Florida, destroying homes and unleashing torrents of water across the state.
Officials in Tampa are now warning of “catastrophic” flooding with half a foot of water falling in less than six hours, and more than half a foot forecast to fall while the hurricane makes its way across the center of Florida.
The US Weather Prediction Center has warned: “An axis of extreme rainfall, stretching from the Tampa metropolitan region northeastward into the north-central Florida Peninsula, is expected to result in major to locally catastrophic flash flooding with considerable threats to life and property,”
Meanwhile, more than half a million homes in Florida are now without power, as floodwaters and hurricane-force winds tear through the sunshine state.
Forecasters are saying the hurricane will officially make landfall in the next hour, with “damaging winds and flooding rains occurring across portions of central and southwestern Florida.”
Hurricane to make landfall in next two hours
Weather forecasters have shortened the timetable for Hurricane Milton to make landfall, now likely to smash into Florida’s east coast over the next two hours.
CBS News meteorologist Nikki Nolan has updated the storm forecast to show Milton making landfall between 2am and 3am GMT, or 9pm and 10pm local time. The hurricane is expected to slow slightly to 130mph as it tears across central Florida.
The tip of the hurricane, referred to as the “northern eyewall of the hurricane” by the US National Hurricane Centre, which is now warning residents in Tampa and nearby St Petersburg of “extremely dangerous hurricane-force winds.”
Storm surges grows as Milton nears
Bradenton Florida is starting to see some storm surge from Hurricane Milton. pic.twitter.com/ECDEH3IwI3
— Independent Economics (@IndependentEco) October 9, 2024
Devastating images show Fort Pierce house razed to the ground ahead of Hurricane Milton landfall
A series of tornadoes are tearing through Florida’s east and west coasts, as the state prepares for the worst hurricane in a century to arrive in a matter of hours.
Several people from across the state have been posting footage of tornadoes that have been spawned by ferocious wins as the devastating weather system approaches.
The images below show damage to a person’s building in Fort Pierce based on the ast coast of the state and around 153 miles from where Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall.
Twitter user Phydew captioned the images: “@NWSMiami @NWSMelbourne @ryanhallyall my friend in fort pierce just sent me these images.”
@NWSMiami @NWSMelbourne @ryanhallyall my friend in fort pierce just sent me these images pic.twitter.com/oRGwaSZiKL
— phydeww (@phydeww) October 9, 2024
Storm surges begin ramping up
Hurricane Milton is approaching Florida’s west coast, whipping up waves and flash floods that could see some in the state’s southwest covered by a 10 foot storm surge in the next few hours.
Forecasters have said some areas could see surges up to 30ft when Milton reaches land. Already, coastal areas like Naples and Fort Myers are seeing storm waters surge by over a metre, while Milton continues to barrel over the Gulf of Mexico toward the central belt of Florida.
It is expected to decrease in wind speed once it makes landfall, slowing to a still-devastating 130mph Category 3 as it moves west to east across the state. Pictures from Naples show the town’s pier already struggling with the surging waters.
National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said: “I am scared to death of some of these storm surge levels. The values are absolutely dangerous and deadly.”
Moment tornado rips up residential area ahead of Hurricane Milton landfall
This is the terrifying moment a tornado ripped through Florida as Hurricane Milton churns towards the state.
The latest of several tornadoes has battered Wellington on Southern Blvd in Wellington, a suburban area popular with families. The video shows it twist through the area, as the apocalyptic weather sweeps its way through the state.
The hurricane itself, a category four storm, is yet to even reach land at Florida so the worst of the weather is yet to come, fear meteorologists. Yet, thousands of people are without power in the state already.
The US Coastguard has now pre-staged and prepositioned personnel, aircraft and boats in advance of Hurricane Milton, thought to be Florida’s worst hurricane in a century.
Terrifying video shows tornado ripping up residential area
Hurricane Milton: Tornado heads through Wellington on Southern Blvd
Harrowing video shows scale of tornado damage as whole streets destroyed
Shocking footage shows houses damaged and uprooted trees after a tornado hit Florida – as Hurricane Milton churns towards the state.
The hurricane four cyclone has already caused wind speeds to rocket across the state, where thousands of people are without power. The US Coastguard has now pre-staged and prepositioned personnel, aircraft and boats in advance of Hurricane Milton, thought to be Florida’s worst hurricane in a century.
One reporter tweeted: “Tornado damage here in Fort Myers ahead of Hurricane #Milton making landfall. Roofs completely blown off homes. People now seeking alternate shelter. Orangewood Avenue. Downed trees, power lines, fences. Power is out. Thankfully, no reported injuries.”
Harrowing video shows scale of tornado damage as whole streets destroyed
Hurricane Milton: Shocking footage of tornado damage in Fort Myers
Anxious Brits in Florida ‘preparing for worst’ as apocalyptic storm approaches
British nationals in Florida are “preparing for the worst” as Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on the west coast of the state.
Winds of up to 165mph are expected across Florida today and tomorrow and heavy rainfall will batter residents, including expats, and tourists. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said there is an increasing risk of a life-threatening storm surge on the west coast.
Kate Collins, 52, said, although she is not living in a mandatory evacuation zone, she has gathered supplies for the hurricane, including a generator, batteries, lanterns, food, and water. Ms Collins, who was raised in Plymouth and moved to Florida 30 years ago, said she is sheltering with five people and five dogs in her home in Volusia County, which is under mandatory curfew from 8pm local time on Wednesday.
Anxious Brits in Florida ‘preparing for worst’ as apocalyptic storm approaches
Tornadoes tear through Florida with 8 more expected before hurricane – full list
Several tornadoes – each at speeds of up to 55mph – are expected to rip through Florida in the next 24 hours before Hurricane Milton strikes.
Meteorologists at TornadoHq, which monitors the phenomena, have tracked at least eight set to cause disruption, including a 55mph cyclone near East Naples moving northwards. They follow some tornadoes, which have already swept across the state in the southeast of the US.
They’re as a result of Hurricane Milton, currently looming outside Florida and set to barrel eastwards over the next day or two. Millions of residents have been ordered to evacuate – or die – as Milton is feared to be the worst hurricane in one century. Pictures on social media show cyclones near Fort Lauderdale, one in the Collier County area and a stovepipe tornado circulating in Broward County. Each has caused destruction of properties and left widespread debris.
Tornadoes tear through Florida with 8 more expected before hurricane – full list
Watch Hurricane Milton webcams live
Hurricane Milton continues to churn in the hot Gulf of Mexico waters, with windspeeds reaching 160mph on Wednesday morning.
It returned to a Category 5 storm on Tuesday night (but has since been downgraded again), with the Tampa Bay area most at risk of Milton’s destructive wrath. There could be a horrifying 15ft storm surge on Florida’s west coast, sparking widespread floods and dangerous projectiles.
There are a number of livestream webcams across the Floridian coast, including in Clearwater, Key West, and Tampa itself. You can follow all of the horrifying scenes across the state as Milton makes landfall from Wednesday night, until early Friday morning.
Piolice rescue dog tied to a pole beside route I-75
FHP Troopers rescued a dog left tied to a pole on I-75 near Bruce B Downs Blvd this morning. Do NOT do this to your pets please… pic.twitter.com/8cZJOfkJL2
— FHP Tampa (@FHPTampa) October 9, 2024
Disney World and Universal closures halt Orlando tourism
Disney World and Universal closures halt Orlando tourism as Milton approaches
Tourism in Orlando rapidly came to a standstill Wednesday with the main airport and at least three theme parks and other businesses set to shut down, leaving Florida residents and visitors fleeing Hurricane Milton to hunker down in area hotels.
Milton, which is expected to come ashore late Wednesday as a major storm, threatened to ruin the vacations of tens of thousands of tourists who came to Orlando to visit the likes of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld, or partake in October festivities like Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. Disney and Universal were due to close Wednesday afternoon while SeaWorld did not open at all. All are expected to remain closed Thursday.
How can authorities respond to Milton?
In North Carolina, a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) regional official says the agency can respond to both Helene and Milton.
Asked at a briefing in Buncombe County, North Carolina, about FEMA’s ability to respond to both Milton and Helene, MaryAnn Tierney, a regional administrator for the agency replied: “FEMA can do more than one thing at a time.”
The agency can provide personnel to western North Carolina and assistance to survivors while balancing needs created by Hurricane Milton, Tierney said.
“FEMA has funding and we have personnel to do so. We have hundreds of personnel in North Carolina. We have hundreds of personnel in Florida. We are here for an extended period of time given the long-term recovery,” she said. “FEMA’s mission in western North Carolina will be enduring.”
Power outages are climbing even beforeMilton makes landfall, with more than 44,000 customers in Florida now without power.
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center closes due to the weather
Kennedy has entered HURCON I ahead of Hurricane #Milton‘s approach.
The center is now closed, with the exception of essential emergency response personnel and Ride Out Team members.
For more updates, continue to check our Operating Status: https://t.co/FZaGw4DdLR pic.twitter.com/taVMXyb6Wi
— NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) October 9, 2024