Images from space captured the ferocity of Hurricane Milton as it neared the Florida coast and the storm's intensity as it made landfall.

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.

At least two deaths were reported and more than 3.3 million homes and businesses were dark by early Thursday, according to USA TODAY.

Hurricane Milton is bringing powerful winds, a storm surge and flooding to much of Florida after making landfall along the Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm

Hurricane Milton stomped across Florida with tornadoes, storm surge and heavy rain after making landfall near Siesta Key Wednesday evening. It made its way across the state before moving into the Atlantic Thursday morning.

Washington Post reporter John Farrell describes what it's like on the ground in Tampa, Fla., as Milton makes landfall.