At least 13 dead after Hurricane Milton hits Florida as Category 3 storm

A tornado that tore through Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, during Milton has been preliminarily rated EF-3 with winds of 140 mph, the National Weather Service in Miami said Thursday.

"Several strong tornadoes developed within rainbands associated with Hurricane Milton. This is the first and very preliminary EF rating for one of those tornadoes," the NWS said.

The tornado had a "relatively long track," and the EF-3 preliminary rating was "based on just one neighborhood which was also one of the hardest hit," the NWS said.

"Considerable structural damage" was seen in the Avenir community in Palm Beach Gardens, with damage to homes including large sections of roof torn off, it said.

The EF Scale estimates a tornado's intensity on a scale from 0 to 5, according to the NWS.

Storm surveys for Milton will take several days to complete, it said.

Storm surge and tropical storm warnings for Milton have been discontinued, as the storm is racing out to sea.

At least 13 fatalities have been reported in connection with Hurricane Milton, ABC News has assessed following multiple press briefings Thursday.

They include six deaths in St. Lucie County, where a dozen tornadoes were reported; four storm-related deaths in Volusia County; two deaths in St. Petersburg; and one death in Citrus County, where Florida Highway Patrol said a man died after colliding with a falling tree.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said it received an unprecedented 356 emergency calls overnight.

Fire Rescue Chief Jason Ogden praised everyone who evacuated. No fatalities have been reported in the county.

"Conditions have improved since yesterday evening, but there's still a lot of water on the roads, downed trees and electrical lines everywhere," Ogden warned. "We have lifted the evacuation order, but I encourage everyone to return home safely. The last thing we want is an unintended death or significant injury."

"Traffic control devices are inoperable, so please treat intersections as four-way stops," Collins added.