Hurricane Milton continues to rapidly intensify and has reached Category 3 strength on Monday morning. The latest forecast shows the dangerous storm targeting Tampa and Central Florida.
The growing threat of a "once in a lifetime" hurricane slamming into Florida's west coast is now a major concern in the sunshine state, with the possibilty of a now Category 3 Hurricane Milton slamming into or near Tampa, causing devastating damage as it tears through the I-4 corridor becoming more and more likely as the hours progress.
Hurricane Milton would be the third hurricane strike of the season in Florida, following Debby in August and Helene in September.
Tropical Storm Milton formed on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 5, and rapidly intensify into a hurricane by Sunday night, Oct. 6. Overnight, Monday, Oct. 7, Hurricane Milton has rapidly grown into a category 3 storm, and is continuing to grow, and will possibly reach category 4 status, before weakening slightly to a category 3 storm as it makes landfall close to Tampa Bay on Wednesday, Oct. 9
The National Weather Service is closely monitoring Milton as it continuing on a path toward the West Coast of Florida, where the storm is now more and more likely to bring a potentially life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and torrential rain to the metro Tampa area on Wednesday.
Tampa is now preparing for what could be the worst storm to hit the area in over 100 years. Since records began over 180 years ago, Tampa has experienced only two direct hits by major hurricanes: a Category 3 storm in 1921 and a Category 4 storm in 1848.
Evacuations are likely, for what is expected to be the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017, and time is running out to prepare for the hurricane's potentially deadly impacts.
If Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida, it will be the third to do so this season following the landfalls of Debby in August and Helene in September.
With Hurricane Milton forecast to make landfall near or south of the Tampa metro as a Category 3 hurricane., this is bad news for Central Florida. The latest track from the National Weather Service shows Milton barreling over Florida's highly populated Interstate 4 corridor which includes Orlando, Seminole, and Osceola.
It's expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, flooding, and damaging winds to the Gulf coast, as well as heavy rain, damaging winds, and the potential for tornadoes as it tears through the center of the state.
As of 5am, Hurricane Milton was about 750 miles away from Tampa, Florida with sustained winds of 100 mph – 5 mph higher than the previous advisory, and making it a Category 2 hurricane.
It is moving east across the Gulf of Mexico at 8 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles.
The first Hurricane Watches have been posted along Florida’s west coast as millions of people across the region prepare for dangerous impacts from Hurricane Milton, such as a life-threatening storm surge, destructive winds and flooding rain.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Florida's Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee to the mouth of the Suwanee River, including Tampa Bay.
A Storm Surge Watch was also issued for Florida's Gulf Coast from Flamingo northward to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay.
Tropical Storm Watches have also been issued for Florida's Gulf Coast.
Here in Central Florida county officials across the area are making urgent plans for the storm, school closures are being announced, shelters are opening, and more.
Yesterday, Sunday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials held a news conference on Sunday morning and said evacuations are likely, and time is running out to prepare for the eventual hurricane’s potentially deadly impacts.
Residents and visitors are being urged to plan now and prepare for the possible impacts from the storm. Residents should be taking this time to check emergency kits and family plans.
Yesterday, Saturday, Gov. DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 35 of Florida's 67 counties, now today at a press conference Gov. DeSantis has increased this to 51 counties ahead of the major storms arrival.
The following counties are now under a state of emergency ahead of Milton:
Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia counties.
Gov. DeSantis assured the public that state officials closely monitoring are Tropical Storm Milton, which has the potential to become a devastating hurricane.and is urging residents and visitors to prepare.
He commented, "Current estimates forecast landfall sometime Wednesday afternoon—there is still time to prepare your homes, organize your disaster plan, and implement plans to keep yourself and your family safe."
"I urge Floridians to finalize your storm preparations now; enact your plan," Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said. "I highly encourage you to evacuate. We are preparing, and I have the State Emergency Response Team preparing, for the largest evacuation that we have seen most likely since 2017 Hurricane Irma."
The state is also mobilizing state assets to supplement local governments in an unprecedented debris removal mission for areas that suffered damage from Hurricane Helene and are currently in the projected path of Milton.
Local debris sites are open 24/7, and there is hundreds of personnel on the ground assisting in removal.
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