Hurricane Milton struck Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday night, causing treacherous storm surges as it made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County around 8:30 p.m. ET as a robust Category 3 storm.
Water levels surged rapidly in several areas, with Venice—just 17 miles south of Siesta Key—and Punta Gorda, over 50 miles southeast, sharing alarming videos on social media. Storm chaser Bryce Shelton reported, “Storm surge is absolutely pouring into Venice, Florida now,” while Brad Arnold noted similar concerns in Punta Gorda, adding that conditions were worsening.
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While forecasts before landfall warned of catastrophic surges reaching up to 15 feet, it remains uncertain if those predictions came true. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor indicated that although storm surges would surpass those seen during Hurricane Helene, they likely wouldn’t reach the highest estimates, stating, “The prediction now is anywhere from 6 to 9 feet.”
Castor urged residents to stay indoors, emphasizing that the next few hours would be particularly challenging in Tampa. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service (NWS) declared a flash flood emergency for Tampa and nearby areas, advising residents to move to higher ground immediately.
Warnings continued to roll out, with NWS Tampa Bay pleading via social media for people to seek safety, stating, “This is a life-threatening situation. Seek higher ground now!” Additional flash flood emergencies were issued for other regions, including Brandon and Lakeland.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management also cautioned residents against venturing into receding waters, reminding them of the risks posed by storm surges. FEMA reported having over 1,000 personnel ready to assist in Florida, alongside pre-staged rescue teams.
After making landfall, Hurricane Milton was quickly downgraded to a Category 2 storm and is expected to weaken further as it moves east across the state. Nevertheless, it remains a significant threat until it exits into the Atlantic on Thursday.
Update: 10/9/24, 11:06 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional details.