Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, Wednesday night.
Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida's west coast Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane.
The monster storm came ashore bringing life-threatening storm surge and Category 3 winds.
"STOP: Do not walk out into receding water in Tampa Bay - the water WILL return through storm surge and poses a life-threatening risk," the Florida Division of Emergency Management wrote in an update Wednesday night.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management shared a warning to residents Wednesday night, saying despite Milton making landfall -- the dangers are present and will continue to be into Thursday.
"Residents should continue to shelter in place & remain vigilant," the agency said. "Deadly hazards & conditions are present well into Thursday as the storm continues to move across the state."
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.
