Hurricane Milton made landfall on Siesta Key on the Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday night as a major Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds as the state endured an assault of at least 19

After battering the west coast of Florida with winds, pounding rain and storm surge, Hurricane Milton roared onshore near Siesta Key at 8:30 p.m. as a powerful Category 3 hurricane with estimated wind speeds of 120 mph.

Hurricane Milton strengthened as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida on Tuesday and could wallop one of the state’s major population centers with huge storm surges, lashing rain and destructive winds just two weeks after deadly Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.