The storm’s violent tornadoes have already caused damage across the state. Water levels are also rising rapidly as the storm’s powerful winds push seawater onto dry land. The situation will only get worse as the storm gets closer.

Hurricane Milton is now a Category 3 storm.

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 120 mph (193 km/h) and higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm will continue to bring life-threatening flooding, heavy rains and strong winds both near and far from where it makes landfall.

Hurricane Milton will maintain hurricane strength as it moves across central Florida through Thursday morning.

Strong winds in Milton are cutting power to hundreds of thousands of Floridians. According to PowerOutage.us, more than 600,000 homes and businesses in the state are without power.

Milton is sinking the Tampa Bay area

Heavy Rain and Extremely Dangerous Winds Hit Milton, Tampa Bay Area

The storm dumped more than 3 inches (76 mm) of rain in some areas over the past three hours, according to NOAA data. An airport in St. Petersburg received 3.49 inches (88 mm) of rain since 4 p.m. ET.

Major flooding is also occurring in Naples as Hurricane Milton causes water levels to rise as high as 3.7 feet (1.1 m) above normal ground level.

Emergency services were suspended as conditions worsened. The governor said at least 19 tornadoes touched down in Florida.

More than 350,000 customers are currently without power in Florida.

The most dangerous part of Milton is now coming ashore.

According to the latest update from the US National Hurricane Center, Milton has begun the process of making landfall and the eyewall and strongest winds are approaching the shore.

The eye of Hurricane Milton had winds of up to 120 mph (193 km/h) with higher gusts.

“The eye of Milton north of Florida is beginning to move up the Gulf Coast near Tampa and St. Petersburg, where a severe wind warning is currently in effect. Please shelter in place as these extremely dangerous hurricane-force winds are spreading across the region,” the center warned.

The storm won’t officially make landfall until at least half of the eye has passed over land, likely within the next hour or two.

CNN’s Boris Sanchez is in the Tampa Bay Area, where he says “weather conditions have deteriorated significantly.” He reports “very, very strong winds” and “very heavy rain.”

“It felt like marbles hitting my skin,” Sanchez said of the rain.

Milton’s eye seen on Tampa radar

Milton’s eye is about 30 miles inland, and the entire storm is now visible on weather radar. Milton’s heavy rain — yellow and orange — surrounds its circular eye and stretches across large swaths of Florida.

Strong winds and tornadoes have appeared.

Winds from Hurricane Milton have reached parts of Florida and gusts of 40 to 55 mph (60 to km/h) are now hitting much of the Keys.

Several coastal weather stations near Naples and Englewood have recently recorded wind gusts below tropical storm force (under 39 mph).

Milton winds will grip more of the coast over the next few hours and spread further inland this afternoon.

Rain bands outside Milton have spawned at least two tornadoes this morning and more are likely throughout the day.

At least one of these was an extremely dangerous tornado.