Both bridges to Siesta Key, where Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, were closed to vehicle traffic early Thursday, and the north bridge was closed to foot traffic, too. But residents of the key were allowed to walk across the south bridge hours after the storm struck.

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) - Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida around 7:30 p.m. CDT as a major Category 3 hurricane with winds around 120 mph. Milton is the fifth hurricane to make landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2024.

After battering the west coast of Florida with winds, pounding rain and storm surge, Hurricane Milton roared onshore near Siesta Key at 8:30 p.m. as a powerful Category 3 hurricane with estimated wind speeds of 120 mph.