Description

Category 3 Hurricane Milton with 120 mph sustained winds made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida on October 9. A storm surge of 5 to 10 feet cased damage from Naples to Charlotte Harbor. Milton's track to the south of Tampa Bay lessened storm surge impacts on the densely populated Tampa metro region. Dozens of tornadoes were also spawn from Milton that damaged many homes, businesses, vehicles and other infrastructure across southern Florida. Milton underwent rapid intensification into a Category 5 hurricane with 180 mph sustained winds and a 897 mb central pressure reading. An environment of enhanced wind shear the day prior to landfall reduced Milton's peak wind potential.