TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday, unleashing winds exceeding 100 mph (160 kph), torrential rain, and spawning multiple tornadoes across the state. While Tampa narrowly avoided a direct hit, the region still faced severe impacts.
With maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (205 kph), the hurricane came ashore at 8:30 p.m. near Siesta Key, a wealthy coastal area about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Tampa. Despite being spared a direct blow, Tampa Bay, which hasn’t been hit by a major hurricane in over 100 years, experienced dangerous storm surges. Other cities along Florida’s Gulf Coast, including Sarasota, Fort Myers, and St. Petersburg, were also at risk.
Flash flooding was reported across the Tampa Bay area, with St. Petersburg seeing over 16 inches (41 cm) of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
