Category 5 Hurricane Milton Strikes Florida: Severe Surge and Flooding

Hurricane Milton is moving east-northeast across Central Florida and is expected to reach the Atlantic by Thursday morning. Currently, it is situated in the Orlando metropolitan area after making landfall Wednesday evening south of Tampa Bay in Siesta Key.

Bands of heavy rainfall with strong wind gusts are affecting various parts of the state, as indicated in the radar snapshot below.

A "flash flood emergency" has been issued for Pasco, Hillsborough, and Polk Counties, including Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Wesley Chapel. Rainfall totals have reached 8-12 inches in some areas, with 10-17 inches reported in southern Pinellas County, coastal Hillsborough County, and western Manatee County. 

Waist-deep flooding has been reported in St. Petersburg and Tampa as a result of the heavy rain. Hurricane-force winds are sweeping across Central Florida, with gusts reaching 105 mph in Egmont Channel, 102 mph in Sarasota, 101 mph in St. Petersburg, 97 mph in Venice, 93 mph in Tampa, and 90 mph in Venice. A sustained wind speed of 78 mph was recorded in Venice at an elevated station. Significant damage has been reported at St. Petersburg's Tropicana Field and several cranes in downtown.

Water levels in the upper Tampa Bay decreased by about 5 feet due to blowout winds, while the mouth of Tampa Bay experienced a rise of 1-2 feet. Naples reported a storm surge of 5.75 feet.

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