CNN —Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday night, making landfall as a powerful Category 3 storm. The intense hurricane spawned tornadoes, dumped rain across much of the state, left millions without power and claimed at least 12 lives, including five people in St. Lucie County. Milton is the third hurricane to hit Florida this year — which has only happened during five other hurricane seasons since 1871. Many areas in Florida are also recovering from the aftermath of a Milton-spurred torrent “supercharged” tornadoes, according to National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan. Milton was the fifth hurricane to make landfall in the United States this year, joining Category 1 Beryl, Category 1 Debby, Category 2 Francine and Category 4 Helene.

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Persons: Hurricane Milton, Lucie County, Helene, Deanne Criswell, Michael Brennan, “ We’ve, Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin, CNN’s Jim Acosta, “, I’ve, Hurricane Irma, Milton, Beryl, Debby, Francine Organizations: CNN, Hurricane, NASA, Climate, FEMA, National Hurricane Center, National Weather Services Locations: Coast, St, Lucie, Siesta, Milton, Florida, Gulf, Mexico, St . Petersburg, Hillsborough, Lucie County, Port St, Tampa Bay , Melbourne, Miami, Hurricane, Hardee, Highlands, Tampa, Petersburg, Sarasota, United States