Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key, continuing its destructive path across the state on Thursday. The hurricane left a trail of devastation, cutting power to millions, tearing the roof off Tropicana Field, and tragically claiming at least four lives. The storm was moving at 18 mph and was forecast to head towards the Bahamas on Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters warned of an additional 2 to 4 inches of rainfall, coupled with the risk of flash floods. Governor Ron DeSantis reported that the rapidly moving storm had already inundated communities in its path with up to 18 inches of rain. The hurricane center also cautioned about a life-threatening storm surge expected along the coast from east-central Florida to southern Georgia on Thursday. Poweroutage.us reported that over 3.3 million homes and businesses were without electricity. Milton also generated tornadoes across Florida.

The fabric roof of Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, was shredded by the intense winds. The stadium had been serving as a staging area for thousands of emergency responders.

Vessel operations at Colonel's Island in the Port of Brunswick, Georgia, were suspended on Thursday, with plans to resume on Friday. Port Panama City, however, recommenced normal cargo operations on Thursday.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the ports of Canaveral, Fernandina, Jacksonville, Key West, Fort Myers, Manatee, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and Tampa were closed on Thursday.

President Joe Biden described Milton as "the storm of the century."