Hurricane Milton updates: 16 dead across Florida in storm's aftermath

Milton is the third landfalling hurricane in Florida this year, after Helene and Debby -- tying 1871, 1886, 1964, 2004 and 2005 for the most Florida landfalling hurricanes on record in a single season.

The Category 3 storm made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, making it the fifth U.S. Gulf Coast hurricane landfall this year (after Beryl, Debby, Francine and Helene). This ties 2005 and 2020 for the second-most Gulf hurricane landfalls on record, trailing only 1886 with six.

Milton remains a Category 3 hurricane now with 115 mph winds about a half hour after making landfall.

It is traveling east-northeast at 15 mph, bringing life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds and flash flooding.

The National Weather Service released a warning Wednesday evening about how to safely shelter in place as dangerously high winds batter Florida with Hurricane Milton's landfall.

"With night falling and power outages climbing, high winds are only getting worse across western FL," the agency said.

"While sheltering from Milton, stay in interior rooms away from places with overhanging trees or branches," according to the NWS.

Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert said she spoke on the phone with President Joe Biden following his briefing earlier Wednesday about the "unprecedented" hurricane.

"The President wanted to see if there is anything we need in Sarasota to let him know. He understands this is going to be an unprecedented type of hurricane and also understands it will take a lot from the federal government to help us recover in Sarasota," Alpert said in a statement after Milton made landfall just south of Sarasota, near Siesta Key.