Monster Hurricane Milton Makes Landfall, Batters Florida Coast

Hurricane Milton left a trail of destruction as it crashed into the Florida coast Wednesday, its furious winds sparking tornadoes and flash floods across a US state reeling from another massive storm two weeks earlier.

Nearly three million Florida homes and businesses were without power after the weather front made landfall as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key on the US state's western coast.

Milton triggered tornadoes before its arrival, with unconfirmed reports of multiple fatalities after one twister struck a retirement community on Florida's east coast.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the "initial impacts" of Milton, the White House said, as responses from Democrats and Republicans are likely to be closely scrutinized with just four weeks until the tightly contested US presidential election. 

Milton weakened to a Category 1 storm but was still registering powerful winds of up to 90 miles (150 kilometers) per hour on Thursday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.

"Very heavy rains and damaging winds continue across much of central Florida. Flash flood emergencies remain in effect," the NHC warned. 

Tidal surges were expected to inundate western Florida's heavily populated and low-lying Gulf Coast.

At least 2.8 million households and businesses had lost power in the state by late Wednesday, according to tracker poweroutage.us.

Milton is expected to tear inland, with tourist hub Orlando -- home to Disney World, which has closed for the storm -- in its path.

Scientists say extreme rainfall and destructive storms are occurring with greater severity and frequency as temperatures rise due to climate change. As warmer ocean surfaces release more water vapor, they provide more energy for storms as they form.

In cities up and down Florida's western coast, the wind howled furiously and torrential rain fell as people took shelter wherever they could.

In the city of Sarasota, near Siesta Key, gusts of wind blew panes of glass from buildings on the waterfront. 

The streets were deserted and trees swayed almost horizontal, barely able to withstand the wind. Businesses were shuttered and sandbagged.

On a wooden board fixed against a window of an old red brick building, someone wrote: "Be kind Milton."

The airports in Tampa and Sarasota were closed until further notice. 

Just before landfall, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged state residents who had not evacuated to "stay inside and stay off the roads," adding: "Flood waters and rushing storm surge are very dangerous."