Milton brings misery

HURRICANE Milton brought misery to a coast still ravaged by Helene as it ploughed into Florida as a Category 3 storm, pounding cities with winds of over 100mph after producing a barrage of 150 tornadoes.

The storm caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene, while sparing Tampa a direct hit.

It tracked to the south in the final hours and made landfall on Wednesday night in Siesta Key near Sarasota, about 70 miles south of Tampa.

The situation in the Tampa area was still a major emergency as St Petersburg recorded over 16in of rain, prompting the National Weather Service to warn of flash flooding there as well as other parts of western and central Florida.