The eye of Hurricane Milton made landfall on the night of this Wednesday near Siesta Key, in Sarasota County, on the west coast of Florida, as a Category 3 cyclone, reported the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
At 8:30 PM, the NHC issued a statement indicating that the maximum sustained winds as the powerful cyclone made landfall were estimated at 120 mph (193 km/h).
According to the notice, Venice reported maximum sustained winds of 78 mph (126 km/h) and gusts of 97 mph (156 km/h); in Egmont Channel, 77 mph (124 km/h) and 100 mph (161 km/h); at Skyway Fishing Pier, 67 mph (107 km/h) and 83 mph (133 km/h); and at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, winds of 40 mph (64 km/h) and gusts of 73 mph (117 km/h).
In a previous report, the Hurricane Center had indicated that the northern wall of the hurricane was extending over the metropolitan area of Tampa/St. Petersburg, and warned that an alert for extreme winds had been issued in both cities.
"Residents are urged to seek refuge in their homes, as these dangerous hurricane-force winds are affecting the region," pointed out the monitoring center.
According to reports, wind gusts of up to 124 km/h (77 mph) have been recorded at nearby weather stations, such as Egmont Channel and Sarasota-Bradenton Airport.
Meanwhile, storm conditions continue to worsen, with sustained winds of 205 km/h at the center of the hurricane. The storm is moving northeast at a speed of 24 km/h. Authorities warn that the coming hours will be critical for the affected areas.
In a later post, the NHC noted that "Milton is near landfall on the west-central coast of Florida."
In addition, it warned: "Potentially deadly storm surge, damaging winds, and torrential rains in parts of central and southwestern Florida."
This Wednesday, the NHC warned that with the imminent arrival of Hurricane Milton in Florida, hurricane-force winds were hitting the Gulf Coast of Florida, with gusts of up to 124 km/h (77 mph) recorded at the entrance of Tampa Bay, and sustained winds of 93 km/h (58 mph).
The NHC reported on the social network X that gusts of 106 km/h (66 mph) were also recorded at Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg, indicating that the effects of the cyclone are intensifying in that area.
The meteorologist and storm chaser, Reed Timmer, shared a video on the social network X showing the moment when the eye of Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida.
Several social media posts have shown the impact of the powerful Milton as it approached the shores of Florida.
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