Milton forced millions to evacuate and left widespread destruction.
At least 16 people have died from Hurricane Milton, which roared onshore on Florida's west coast as a Category 3 hurricane, bringing tornadoes, powerful winds and flooding rains. The monster storm forced millions to evacuate and left widespread destruction across Florida.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management shared a warning to residents Wednesday night, saying despite Milton making landfall -- the dangers are present and will continue to be into Thursday.
"Residents should continue to shelter in place & remain vigilant," the agency said. "Deadly hazards & conditions are present well into Thursday as the storm continues to move across the state."
Milton is the third landfalling hurricane in Florida this year, after Helene and Debby -- tying 1871, 1886, 1964, 2004 and 2005 for the most Florida landfalling hurricanes on record in a single season.
The Category 3 storm made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, making it the fifth U.S. Gulf Coast hurricane landfall this year (after Beryl, Debby, Francine and Helene). This ties 2005 and 2020 for the second-most Gulf hurricane landfalls on record, trailing only 1886 with six.
Milton remains a Category 3 hurricane now with 115 mph winds about a half hour after making landfall.
It is traveling east-northeast at 15 mph, bringing life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds and flash flooding.
The National Weather Service released a warning Wednesday evening about how to safely shelter in place as dangerously high winds batter Florida with Hurricane Milton's landfall.
"With night falling and power outages climbing, high winds are only getting worse across western FL," the agency said.
"While sheltering from Milton, stay in interior rooms away from places with overhanging trees or branches," according to the NWS.
