Hurricane Milton live updates: 2mn left without power, storm weakens to category 1

The National Hurricane Center says on X: “Damaging winds from Hurricane #Milton are now reaching the Florida East Coast, and a Flash Flood Emergency continues over portions of west-central Florida.”

The weather agency posted that heavy rains will continue across much of central Florida.

Hurricane Milton now has winds of 144 kmph, making it a Category 1 hurricane, according to an hourly update from the National Hurricane Center.

St Petersburg in Tampa has shut down supply of drinking water to the city, after the main pipe was reported broken.

Writing on Facebook, the city said there would be no supplies until repairs could be completed.

“Repairs to the water line will begin once it is safe for crews to be outside,” it said.

“The City is issuing a boil water notice for all potable water used for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth until further notice,” the statement added.

Power outages have soared across Florida, with almost 2 million homes and businesses now struggling without power in about 3 hours, according to PowerOutage.us.

US President Joe Biden received briefing on the storm after Milton made landfall earlier Wednesday night, according to a statement from the White House.

“Tonight, following Hurricane Milton’s landfall, the President was briefed by Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on the initial impacts of the hurricane on the Florida Peninsula. The President will continue to receive updates from his team,” White House statement read.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) asked residents Wednesday to “hunker down” until the storm passes.

“So the storm is here. It’s time for everybody to hunker down,” DeSantis said at a press conference Wednesday evening.

“At this point, it’s too dangerous to evacuate safely, so you have to shelter in place and just hunker down,” DeSantis added.

An estimated 31,000 unhoused people live in Florida, according to the state government. As Hurricane Milton batters the state, the community remains the most vulnerable.

Dangerous wind gusts over 160 kmph were recorded Wednesday night around the Tampa area.

President Joe Biden earlier talked to Florida officials Wednesday before the Hurricane Milton made landfall, the White House said.

Those officials include Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert, and US Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Kathy Castor, according to the White House.

Record rainfall has been reported in Tampa Bay area as Hurricane Milton churns its way across Florida after making landfall on Wednesday.

The city of St. Petersburg, in Tampa Bay, has received “an insane amount of rain”, more than 16 inches in last 24 hours. More than 5 inches fell in one hour between 8pm and 9pm alone.