Hurricane Milton is still a poweful and dangerous storm as it pulls away from the Yucatan Peninsula and heads toward Florida. It is a strong Category 4 hurricane. It is expected to make landfall on Florida’s west coast late Wednesday night or early Thursday.
Milton formed into a tropical storm in the Bay of Campeche on Saturday, Oct. 5. It became a hurricane on Saturday, Oct. 6, and just a day later it was already a Category 5 hurricane with max winds of 180 mph as it moved across the Gulf.
Milton continues to strengthen over warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico and has intensified back into a Category 5 storm. It has maximum winds of 155 mph and is moving northeast at 16 mph.
It is expected to weaken somewhat as it approaches the Florida Peninsula on Wednesady because of increasing shear and some dry air entrainment.
However, it is expected to remain a major hurricane (at least Category 3) during landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday along Florida’s west coast and maintain hurricane strength while crossing the state.
Hurricane and Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for most of Florida, with Tropical Storm Watches up the Georgia and South Carolina coast.
The latest timing of landfall looks to be late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. The strongest winds and highest rainfall totals will remain to the north of the center of Milton.
Rainfall totals will likely exceed 12 inches along and north of I-4 to the north of Milton’s center. Flash flooding is likely across parts of Central Florida on Thursday as Milton crosses the state.
Storm surge inundation will be extreme near Milton’s center to the south, with peak inundation up to 10 to 15 feet above ground level. If Milton makes landfall near or to the north of Tampa Bay, it will be worst in the Bay and southward toward southwest Florida.
If it makes landfall south of Tampa Bay, storm surge values will be lower in the Bay, and higher from Sarasota southward.
Tornadoes are also possible across Central and South Florida as Milton crosses the state on Wednesday night and Thursday.
Impacts will begin on Wednesday afternoon and quickly worsen. Preparations should be rushed to completion by early Wednesday morning. If you live in an evacuation zone and are ordered to evacuate, follow guidance from local officials.
Here’s a look at the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season so far.
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