More than three million homes and businesses are now without power in Florida, according to the latest data.

Monitoring site poweroutage.us - which is updated every ten minutes - shows the worst-affected places along the west-central coast include Sarasota, Manatee, Pinellas, Charlotte and Lee.

Hurricane Milton made landfall overnight near Siesta Key as a major category three hurricane.

Milton initially brought winds in excess of 100mph which downed power lines, structural damage and trees.

Over 18 inches of rain fell in St Petersburg and Tampa - that’s almost half a metre which is a one in a thousand year rainfall event for that area. Clearwater beach reported over 14 inches of rain.

As Milton moved east northeast across Florida its intensity lessened – this happens as it loses its heat and energy source over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, plus the friction as it interacts with the land.

However it maintained a category one strength - that’s sustained winds up to 90mph, right across Florida.

It’s a huge storm in area and most of the state have felt some impact from the storm. Indeed the rainfall extends into Georgia and South Carolina.

(Source: BBC)