CNN viewers are concerned after Anderson Cooper was hit in the face during Hurricane Milton coverage

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CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was hit in the face by debris while reporting outdoors from Hurricane Milton in Florida as the massive storm made landfall.

The hurricane entered the state as a Category 3 storm early Wednesday evening near Siesta Key in Sarasota County, bringing destructive tornadoes, 28-foot waves, strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge in several areas.

The National Weather Service generated 111 tornado warnings at 9:30pm UK time, breaking a record set in 2017.

Facing winds of more than 150 mph, Cooper was dispatched to Bradenton, Florida, on Wednesday evening to report on the carnage in the Sunshine State.

“The water is really starting to pour in now,” an already drenched Cooper said while speaking to the camera on a sidewalk along the Manatee River.

Things weren't going much better for the 57-year-old news veteran when, seconds later, the elements hurled a white object directly into his face, leaving him momentarily dazed.

“Well, that wasn’t good,” he said. “We'll probably go in soon.”

Things didn't go much better for Cooper's colleague Bill Weir in St. Petersburg, who was literally swept off the screen during his report.

Although it's not uncommon for US media outlets to send reporters into dangerous storms, viewers still couldn't help but worry about Cooper.

On Get my cute porcelain glass anchor in there.”

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Another said: “'It's important that everyone stays inside,' FEMA rep tells CNN as Anderson Cooper fights for his life in Florida on split screen.”

A third added: “You know it's serious when they send Anderson Cooper into the eye of the storm. I thought he must have a clause in his contract saying he won’t do that anymore.”

A fourth joked: “I like that CNN sees no problem with putting Anderson Cooper right in the middle of Hurricane Milton but somehow draws the line at letting him drink on New Year's Eve.”

The CNN anchor wasn't the only reporter who put himself in danger Wednesday night.

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Fox Weather correspondent Robert Ray felt the full force of Hurricane Milton just before the storm made landfall. “We just had a tree break that fell right on top of our vehicles,” Ray said on Fox Weather.

The reporter had just finished a live report on the Manatee River before he got into his vehicle and looked at his phone.

“And then, all of a sudden, boom!” Ray remembered. “The whole tree just falls down and partially gets into the vehicle that (cameraman) Lloyd is in.”

“Certainly a hurricane gust of wind that would knock down a tree like that,” he added.

After the tree fell, Ray said there was a “bit of a chaotic moment” when he asked if everyone was OK and he “couldn't hear a damn thing” because of the raging wind.