Transformers Explode as Hurricane Matthew Knocks Out Power to 500,000 in Florida

— -- Eyewitness videos of Hurricane Matthew in Florida show transformers exploding in the wind and rain, sparking and popping like bursting fireworks in the storm.

Power outages have created major headaches for residents in the the early hours of Friday morning, as the storm brought with it powerful sustained winds off the east coast of Florida.

More than 500,000 people lost power.

Florida Power and Electric reported 213,000 without power, and Duke Energy reported an additional 10,222 affected customers. Other companies reported power outages as well.

The National Hurricane Center downgraded the storm to a Category 3 Hurricane with 120 mph winds at 2 a.m. ET as the storm tracked dangerously close to land, bringing with it hurricane-force winds, torrential rain and a dangerous storm surge.