Milton, a Category 3 hurricane, made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, bringing life-threatening storm surges, extreme winds, and flash flooding to the central peninsula. The storm had rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane and was expected to hit the west coast of Florida between St. Petersburg and Sarasota. Forecasters predicted up to 8 inches of rain, storm surges of up to 15 feet, and the possibility of tornadoes across the state. Cities like Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Myers were at risk for significant impacts, including power outages and flooding. Milton’s rare origin in the southwest Gulf of Mexico made it a unique and potentially deadly storm, as it was only the second hurricane to take that path since 1867. The region was still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which had killed over 230 people in six states just a few weeks prior. As Milton continued to move inland, the storm was expected to weaken but still posed a serious threat to Florida residents. Officials urged residents to prepare for the worst and stay updated on the latest developments as the storm progressed.
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