Monster storm Hurricane Milton left a path of destruction across Florida overnight, leaving several people dead and 3million without power as it heads to the Atlantic.

The first casualties were reported even before Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm around 8:30pm EST, bringing ‘catastrophic’ flooding, 120mph winds and several twisters – some of which proved lethal.

After making landfall, Milton began rumbling east, ripping up everything in its path before ripping apart the roof of Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team in St. Petersburg.

At least 117 tornado warnings were issued in communities across the state overnight and into this morning, with dozens reported to have materialized and wrought havoc. More than 3 million homes and businesses were without power Thursday morning in Florida.

Aerial photos show devastation caused by Milton… with worse to come

Daylight photos show the devastating floods that have struck Punta Gordon in Florida.

The coastal resort sits about 55 miles south of Sarasota, where Milton made landfall.

Its streets have been filled with water, with multiple boats tossed inland by the force of Milton’s winds.

Milton struck as a category 3 hurricane and has now moved across Florida and out into the Atlantic where it will weaken to a tropical storm.

But Tampa Bay residents are bracing themselves for a storm surge in the next few hours as the tide comes in.

The record-breaking wall of water is forecast to reach heights of 10 feet and will destroy everything in its path.

High tides could cause dangerous flooding after Milton’s landfall

The Tampa area is bracing for a storm surge on Thursday morning after Hurricane Milton made landfall in Siesta Key.

The storm pounded cities with ferocious winds and rain, whipping up a barrage of tornadoes and causing an unknown numbers of deaths and leaving 3million without power.

St. Petersburg recorded over 16 inches of rain, prompting the National Weather Service to warn of flash flooding there as well as other parts of western and central Florida.

As dawn broke Thursday, officials repeated that the danger had not passed: Storm surge remained a concern in many parts of Florida and tropical storm warnings were in place for much of the east-central coast.

Officials in the hard-hit counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota and Lee urged people to stay home, warning of downed power lines, trees in roads, blocked bridges and flooding.

‘We’ll let you know when it’s safe to come out,’ Sheriff Chad Chronister of Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, said on Facebook.

Tampa mayor Jane Castor said she was pleased the area did not see the predicted storm surge. However, she urged residents to stay inside and warned that ‘it’s not over’ as Hillsborough County could flood when the high tide comes in at 7am EST.

Measnwhile Sarasota officials said: ‘We know everyone is eager to see how our community fared following Hurricane Milton.

‘At this time, please stay where you are and continue to shelter in place. It is not safe to venture outside yet.’

Residents are rescued from an apartment complex in Clearwater that was flooded from and overflowing creek