Hurricane Milton Live Updates: 3 Million Without Power; Tornado Outbreak Becomes Fatal

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Hurricane Milton Continues to Impact Florida After a Night of Destruction

Despite a long night of extreme winds and storm surges causing widespread damage, Hurricane Milton is not finished with Florida.

Before making landfall on Wednesday night, Milton generated over a dozen tornadoes, at least one of which has been linked to the storm's initial fatalities.

Here are the latest updates from Florida. For complete coverage from yesterday, click here.

(8:23 a.m. ET) St. Lucie County Reports Death Toll Update
Officials have confirmed that four people died in St. Lucie County on Wednesday due to large tornadoes spawned by Milton prior to landfall. Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, reported that approximately 125 homes were destroyed before the storm even reached shore. Many of these homes were mobile residences in senior communities, according to the Associated Press.

(8:10 a.m. ET) Milton Moves Away from Florida’s East Coast; Warnings Updated
Milton's center is moving away from Florida’s east coast, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, the National Hurricane Center reports. The storm has been downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane. All hurricane and tropical storm warnings have been lifted on the state's west coast, but remain in effect for much of east-central Florida. Storm surge warnings are still active along the east coast up to Altamaha Sound in Georgia. The storm is expected to continue moving north of the Bahamas.

(7:33 a.m. ET) Pinellas County Fully Closed
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has announced that all access points to the county are being shut down as rescue crews respond to hazardous conditions. Barrier islands are also closed.

(7:18 a.m. ET) Boat Washes Up in Port Charlotte
A boat was seen jutting out into traffic in Port Charlotte after being tossed onto a road by Milton. The area is experiencing street flooding due to significant storm surge and heavy rainfall.

(6:54 a.m. ET) Pinellas County Urges Residents to Shelter in Place
Pinellas County has sent out an emergency alert urging residents still in the area to shelter in place to allow emergency response crews to assist those in need and clear storm damage. The alert states, “SEVERE DAMAGES COUNTYWIDE... MANY ROADS IMPASSABLE DUE TO DOWNED POWER LINES, FALLEN TREES, DEBRIS... STAY OFF THE ROADS UNTIL ADVISED OTHERWISE BY COUNTY OFFICIALS… STAY PUT NOW.”

(6:29 a.m. ET) Rescues Underway in Tampa Area
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is responding to multiple calls for assistance in at least one neighborhood. Sheriff Chad Chronister stated, “Our cut teams are out cutting trees, trying to open up some of the roadways. There are downed power lines and trees everywhere. Please stay indoors. We’ll let you know when it’s safe to come out.”

(6:15 a.m. ET) St. Lucie County Sheriff: “We Have Lost Some Lives”
Milton claimed lives even before making landfall. The St. Lucie County Sheriff confirmed on WPBF 25 News that there were multiple fatalities at the Spanish Lakes Country Club in Fort Pierce, where a tornado devastated homes and buildings. The exact number of deaths is still unclear.

(5:43 a.m. ET) Storm Surge Peak Not Yet Reached in Northeast Florida
Although northeast Florida is experiencing flooding now, officials warn that the worst is yet to come. The storm surge peak is expected this afternoon and evening along this part of Florida’s coast, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the St. Johns River. The St. Johns Basin may experience moderate to major flooding for at least two weeks after the peak.

(5:25 a.m. ET) Milton Breaks Tampa's Monthly Rainfall Record in One Day
Milton brought a staggering 11.43 inches of rainfall to Tampa on Wednesday, breaking the city’s monthly rainfall record in just 24 hours. The previous record for October was set in 1922 at 10.33 inches.

(5:18 a.m. ET) St. Johns River Flooding in Several Counties
Heavy rainfall combined with storm surge and high tide is causing flooding along the St. Johns River, leading to moderate to major inundation in St. Johns, Putnam, and Flagler counties. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has warned residents against driving through floodwaters and shared photos of the flooding.

(4:40 a.m. ET) Latest on Crane Collapse
A crane collapsed late last night in downtown St. Petersburg, striking a building that houses the Tampa Bay Times offices. Here’s what we know:

• The crane was part of the construction of a new residential high-rise across from the newspaper's offices.
• No injuries were reported, and no one was inside either building affected.
• The crane fell onto 1st Avenue South, blocking the street completely.
• This crane, along with two others at the construction site, was rated to withstand winds up to 110 mph.

(4:15 a.m. ET) Everyone Safe After Roof Damage at Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field, home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays, suffered significant damage when several roof panels were ripped off by Milton's strong winds. The building was being used to house essential personnel involved in storm response, with hundreds of cots set up on the playing field. A spokesperson confirmed that no first responders were stationed there, and all essential personnel are safe. Damage assessments will proceed once conditions allow.

(4 a.m. ET) Power Outages Exceed 3 Million
According to PowerOutage.us, over 3 million homes and businesses in Florida are without power, affecting roughly one in four customers statewide. The hardest-hit counties are closest to Milton's landfall, with nearly all customers in Manatee and Sarasota counties without power, and around half a million homes and businesses in Hillsborough County are also without electricity.