A large water main break has been reported in Bradenton as Hurricane Milton moves closer to landfall in Florida Wednesday afternoon.

The break has occurred in the area south of 9th Avenue East and north of 26th Avenue East, between 17th Street East and 27th Street East.

Even as some parts of Florida’s western coast were enduring a surge of seawater on Wednesday night, Hurricane Milton’s heavy winds were pushing water out of Tampa Bay. A flood gauge near Tampa showed the water levels fluctuating as Milton approached and then plummeting while the storm’s eye passed to the south — dropping three feet below the level expected on a normal day.

Multiple tornadoes have been reported across Florida as Hurricane Milton started lashing the state. Twisters were spotted in south Florida and crossing a key interstate as drivers were on the road. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said forecasted conditions were helping Milton produce twisters and "several tornadoes will be likely" across central and south Florida - something that will continue through the evening.

Milton poses an unusual threat to the region, which has been developed on low-lying ground and is still reeling from the effects of Helene.