The LATEST On Hurricane Milton: What to Expect

If you live in Florida – or frankly, anywhere on the east coast – you should be following news about Hurricane Milton closely.

What could be the largest hurricane the United States has ever seen is about to sweep through the state, and we don’t know how much further north it could go. And with Hurricane Helen taking place only days before, it’s hard not to worry whether a third hurricane could be on the way soon, too…

At a glance:

  • Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm, with winds of up to 120 mph.
  • A storm surge of up to 12 feet could hit western Florida, leading to mandatory evacuations for millions of residents.
  • Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 counties, with large-scale evacuations underway.

Hurricane Milton is poised to strike Florida’s Gulf Coast as a powerful Category 3 hurricane, bringing with it the potential for devastating damage. With sustained winds reaching 120 mph and storm surges expected to be as high as 12 feet in some areas, the state is preparing for what could be one of the most severe storms in recent history. Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for 51 of Florida’s 67 counties, urging residents in evacuation zones to leave immediately.

“We are preparing for the largest evacuation since 2017’s Hurricane Irma,” said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Millions of residents along the Gulf Coast, including the Tampa Bay area, have been advised to evacuate in advance of the storm’s arrival. Florida officials are emphasizing the importance of acting quickly to avoid traffic congestion and dangerous conditions as Milton approaches.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor expressed urgency, telling residents, “Just go now. Beat the traffic and go now and just go to higher ground.” In a sobering statement, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody advised those who choose to stay behind to mark their names on their arms for identification, highlighting the serious threat to life posed by this storm.

Hurricane Milton is currently located approximately 745 miles southwest of Tampa and is expected to make landfall on Wednesday around 5 p.m. As the storm intensifies, experts warn that it could dump between 4 to 8 inches of rain across cities like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, with some areas potentially seeing up to 15 inches of rain.

The storm surge expected in the Tampa Bay area could be the worst in over a century. Up to 10 inches of water is forecasted to hit, far surpassing the surge seen during Hurricane Helene, which left 12 dead in Pinellas County alone.

Governor DeSantis has urged residents to take the storm seriously, saying, “I don’t think there’s any scenario where we don’t have major impacts at this point.” He advised Floridians to use Monday and Tuesday to finalize their hurricane preparedness plans and emphasized the importance of evacuating if living in barrier islands or other vulnerable areas.

In preparation for Milton, Florida has implemented measures to assist evacuees, including providing emergency fuel for gas-powered vehicles and charging stations for electric cars along evacuation routes. Schools in several counties have already closed, and officials have opened shelters to accommodate those fleeing coastal areas.

The storm comes less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene left thousands of residents stranded in their flooded homes. Debris from that storm still litters many areas, and Governor DeSantis has activated the National Guard to assist in clearing away debris to prevent flying hazards during Hurricane Milton. More than 4,000 National Guard members are expected to be deployed across the state.

With more than 15 million people under flood watches through Thursday, and the potential for widespread wind damage, Florida is bracing for what could be one of the most destructive hurricanes in recent memory. As the storm continues to gain strength, state officials and residents are taking every precaution to protect lives and property.