First responders help residents escape from the high waters of Hurricane Milton

First responder teams in Clearwater, Florida, were out since before daybreak rescuing residents from high water left by Hurricane Milton.

Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday along Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm, bringing powerful winds, deadly storm surge, and potential flooding to much of the state.

Milton drew fuel from exceedingly warm Gulf of Mexico waters, twice reaching Category 5 status.

A flash flood warning has been issued for St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Largo in Pinellas County along the Gulf Coast until 7:45 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The city of Sarasota also announced on X a flash flood warning in effect until then.

The cyclone had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (205 kph) when it roared ashore in Siesta Key, Florida, at 8:30 p.m., the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said. The hurricane was bringing deadly storm surge to much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, including densely populated areas such as Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Fort Myers.

The hurricane was downgraded to a Category 1 storm as it moved through Florida early Thursday.