Hurricane Milton has made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has said.
It was located about 115 miles (185 km) southwest of Orlando Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (205 kph).
"Data indicate the eye of Hurricane Milton has made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County along the west coast of Florida," the NHC said.
The category 3 storm has been expected to maintain hurricane strength as it has crossed the Florida peninsula. It has posed storm-surge danger on the state’s Atlantic coast as well.
The storm has been able to bring a surge of seawater as high as nine to 13 feet (2.7 to 4 meters) in some areas and has dumped six to 12 inches (150 to 300 mm) of rain, with as much as 18 inches (450 mm) possible in spots.
Over 1 million people without power in Florida
An unprecedented number of power cuts have already left over 1.1 million homes and businesses in Florida without electricity after Hurricane Milton made landfall.
The most significant outages are in Sarasota County, where Milton made landfall around 8:30 p.m. local time.
The number of power cuts is set to rise as the storm moves inland and across the state.
First fatalities reported in Florida
Hurricane Milton has reportedly claimed its first victims in St. Lucie County on the east coast of Florida, officials have told media including local West Palm Beach outlet WPTV, the BBC and CNN.
Local Sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed "multiple fatalities" at a seniors' country club near Fort Pierce, saying police officers were using bulldozers and other equipment "to recover anyone we can, provide any help that we can."
"It's devastating, no words can describe it," he said.
Exact details remain unclear, but Pearson said the county had been hit by "multiple tornadoes" that sprung up before the hurricane's arrival. The Sheriff's office itself was reportedly also damaged.
"With a tornado, you don't know [where it will strike]," he said. "It's like having a bomb dropped at any place and any time."
He warned residents that it's now too late to evacuate, saying: "If you're home, stay at home. Don't make us come out here for you."
St. Lucie County is on Florida's eastern Atlantic coast, about 140 miles east of Sarasota, where Hurricane Milton made landfall.
Roof torn off Tropicana Field
The home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team lost its roof late on Wednesday.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the multipurpose stadium was being used as a staging area for National Guardsmen and electrical workers.
An NBA preseason game scheduled to take place in the arena later this week has been canceled, and the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team's home opener was likely to be moved to another location.
"There's always things bigger than the game of basketball," said Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, whose team had been due to play against the New Orleans Pelicans at Tropicana on Friday.
NHC: Milton is now Category 1 hurricane
Early on Thursday, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Milton had become a Category 1 hurricane.
The downgrade came several hours after the storm made landfall as a Category 3.
Hurricanes typically lose steam after hitting land.
On Sunday and Monday, scientists were left stunned when the storm rapidly developed from a Category 1 to 5 within a matter of hours.
Despite the downgrade, winds were still extremely strong at 90 mph (150 kph) as the storm made its way towards Cape Canaveral on Florida's east coast.
Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton and others donate to hurricane relief
Taylor Swift has donated millions of dollars to charity and several top US country musicians have announced a benefit concert – all aimed at supporting people across the southern United States affected by Hurricane Helene two weeks ago and who are now set to be hit by Hurricane Milton.
Pop superstar Swift gave $5 million (€4.57m) to the nonprofit group Feeding America to assist in the storms' aftermath, according to a social media post from the group.
"Thank you, Taylor, for standing with us in the movement to end hunger and helping communities in need," said CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot in a statement.
Elsewhere, country stars Keith Urban, Luke Combs and Eric Church top the bill for a "Concert for Carolina" scheduled for October 26 for the benefit of the regions worst hit by Helene.
Among other efforts, country singer Morgan Wallen donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief and was spotted helping to collect supplies in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, country legend Dolly Parton donated $1 million of her personal funds to a Tennessee nonprofit. "These are my people and this is my home," Parton told a crowd in Newport, Tennessee. "I am with you because I am part of you."
