An expanding Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida's west coast on Wednesday, spawning tornados and lashing the region with rain as it threatened the Tampa Bay area, where it could deliver a life-threatening surge of seawater.

In a state already battered by Hurricane Helene two weeks ago, as many as two million people were ordered to evacuate, and millions more live in the projected path of the storm.

President Joe Biden urged people to follow local safety recommendations. "It's literally a matter of life and death," Biden said at White House briefing.

Much of the southern US experienced the deadly force of Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago as it cut a swath of devastation through Florida and several other states.

Both storms are expected cause untold billions of dollars in damage.

Most hurricane fatalities occur when trees fall on people in the street, in their cars or in their homes, the National Hurricane Center warned.

Others die from post-storm accidents like setting their houses on fire using candles, igniting leaked gas with flashlights and asphyxiating from carbon monoxide produced by generators.

People die of heart attacks and other medical issues after storms, as well as in accidents while using chainsaws to clear downed trees, NHC Director Michael Brennan said in a video briefing.

Fueled by unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, the storm was set to hit the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, home to more than 3 million people, as a major hurricane with a huge footprint.

By 8:30 pm local time, Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, about 100 km south of Tampa.

The hurricane centre labeled the storm "extremely dangerous."

It said once past Florida, the storm should weaken over the western Atlantic, possibly dropping below hurricane strength on Thursday night, but will nonetheless pose storm-surge danger on the state's Atlantic coast as well.

While Milton slightly weakened on Wednesday afternoon to a Category 3 hurricane, the third-highest level, it was growing in size as it approached Florida and remained extremely dangerous with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph, the hurricane centre said.

The storm could bring a surge of seawater as high as 2.7 to 4 metres in some areas and dump 150 to 300 mm of rain, with as much as 450 mm possible in spots.

The National Weather Service confirmed at least 16 tornadoes in Florida on Wednesday, and more were expected into the early hours of Thursday.

At sea, the hurricane created waves close to 8.5 meters high, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.

The four bridges spanning Tampa Bay were closed before the storm was due to make landfall, according to the Florida 511 website.

Nearly everyone who decided to flee appeared to have done so, as most streets in nearby St. Petersburg were nearly deserted by midday on Wednesday.

Most causeways connecting the Gulf barrier islands to the mainland were also shut, stranding any who decided to ride out the storm despite pleas from officials. (Reuters)

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Last updated: 2024-10-10 HKT 10:18