Hurricane Milton: Where It's Heading and What to Know

Hurricane Milton weakened slightly in intensity on Tuesday from a Category 5 to Category 4 storm but is still considered “extremely dangerous,” according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida as early as Wednesday night and is currently 560 miles southwest of Tampa.

The center of the Hurricane is expected to pass near or through the Tampa Bay region, which has not been hit directly by a major hurricane over a century, according to the Associated Press.

Milton could prove disastrous as it travels closer to the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and arrives as Florida—and many other states across the South—is still cleaning up debris from Hurricane Helene.

Read More: Why Tampa Is Especially Vulnerable to Hurricane Milton.

Mandatory evacuation orders in Florida are in place for nine counties as of Tuesday morning. The storm will likely become the largest evacuation the state has seen since Hurricane Irma in 2017, Kevin Guthrie, the executive director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, said at a press conference on Sunday.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor gave a dire warning to residents during a Monday night CNN appearance. “I can say without any dramatization whatsoever, if you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re gonna die,” she warned.

Officials have encouraged those with the means to do so to stay with friends, family, or in hotels. For those without those options, shelters are available with basic provisions.

<span class="copyright">Courtesy of the NWS National Hurricane Center</span>
Courtesy of the NWS National Hurricane Center

A storm surge is expected to increase water levels by some four to six feet above ground level in the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, per the NHC’s latest advisory. But the surge could be even stronger in some areas. Tampa Bay is forecasted to see anywhere from eight to 12 feet of water above ground if peak surge happens during the high tide. Milton will also be bringing large and destructive waves.

Rainfall—of 5 to 12 inches, with localized totals potentially reaching as high as 18 inches—is expected across the central and northern parts of the Florida Peninsula through Thursday. This rainfall brings the risk of considerable flash, urban, and areal flooding.

Milton comes on the heels of an already extremely active hurricane season, especially for Florida.

Less than two weeks ago, Florida’s west coast was hit hard by Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in the state as a Category 4 storm. The devastation and damage from Helene spread from Florida, with its death toll climbing to at least 230 people.

— ANNA GORDON CONTRIBUTED REPORTING / LONDON

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