Washington Post reporter John Farrell describes how flooding and wind damage affected the Tampa Bay area Oct. 10 after Hurricane Milton swept through Florida.

Hurricane Milton moved quickly across Florida Wednesday night after making landfall near Siesta Key. It exited Florida as a Category 1 hurricane.

After rapidly intensifying to a rare Category 5 hurricane followed by a gradual weakening to a Category 3 in the Gulf of Mexico, the eye of Milton made landfall at about 8:30 p.m.

Hurricane Milton brought high winds, heavy rains and life-threatening storm surge to Florida. Here's what the state looked like in its aftermath.

The state is now conducting damage assessments after the hurricane made landfall late Wednesday, but early indications are that the damage could have been worse.