Hurricane Milton has slammed into Florida as a Category 3 storm carrying sustained winds of over 190kph and producing a series of tornados around the state.

At least two people have died in a tornado in the southeast of the state and more than 1.5 million homes are without power.

The US National Hurricane Centre said Milton's winds weakened to 144kph overnight, downgrading it to a Category 1 storm.

The US National Weather Service says the situation remains life-threatening despite the downgrade.

Milton is expected to bring a deadly storm surge to much of Florida's Gulf Coast, including densely populated areas such as Tampa, St Petersburg, Sarasota and Fort Myers.

At the time of landfall, it is believed nearly 100,000 people were in evacuation centres across Florida.

Speaking from the White House earlier on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said Milton is expected to be "one of the most destructive hurricanes in Florida in over a century".

Urging everyone in its path to listen to the advice of local officials, he said it carried "incredible destructiveness and can wipe out communities and cause loss of life".

Before Milton even made landfall, tornados were touched down across the state.

At least two people were confirmed to have been killed in a tornado in St Lucie County, with many other people taken to hospitals.

The badly damaged roof of the Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium in St Petersburg, Florida, 10-10-2024. Image: Associated Press / Alamy

President Biden has committed the full resources of the Federal Government to aid those most affected by the disaster – and hit out at misinformation from presidential candidate Donald Trump regarding the relief effort.

“Former president Trump has led the onslaught of lies,” he said.

“Assertions have been made about properties being confiscated – that is simply not true.

“They are saying people impacted by these storms will receive $750 in cash and no more – that is simply not true.

“They are saying the money needed for this crisis is being diverted to migrants – what a ridiculous thing to say.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris and US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office yesterday, 09-10-2024.

Yesterday, officials issued last ditch attempts to convince the near two million people under evacuation orders to flee or face slim chance of survival.

Cathie Perkins, emergency management director in Pinellas County, said: "Those of you who were punched during Hurricane Helene, this is going to be a knockout. You need to get out, and you need to get out now."

A stream of vehicles was pictured headed north on Interstate 75, the main road on the west side of the peninsula, as residents followed evacuation orders.

Traffic also clogged up the southbound lanes of the road for miles as others headed for the relative safety of Fort Lauderdale and Miami on the other side of the state.

Meanwhile, animals at Tampa's zoo took shelter in hurricane-hardened buildings.

Ron Rook, who said he was looking for people in need of help or debris to clear, walks through windy and rainy conditions on a deserted street in downtown Tampa, Florida, 09-10-2024. Image: Associated Press / Alamy

Milton made landfall at around 8.30pm while Florida was in darkness.

When the sun rises later today, the full impact of the storm will be revealed.

Reporting from Michael Staines and IRN.