The forecast expects it to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday.
Hurricane Milton is approaching Florida as many are still recovering from Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago. Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding and damage in over six states.
Read the latest on clean-up and recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene.
UPDATE Oct 8th, 12:30 PM EDT
Additional counties have been added to the evacuation list as Hurricane Milton continues toward the west coast of Florida. President Joe Biden warns that this could be one of Florida’s worst storms in 100 years. He postponed an international trip to remain stateside in anticipation of the storm. Officials, including President Biden, continue urging residents to evacuate saying that it is “a matter of life and death.”
Thousands of flights have already been cancelled at St.Pete-Clearwater, Tampa, Orlando, and Sarasota Bradenton airports, which are all set to be closed.
Tuesday morning Hurricane Milton weakened to a Category 4 with winds decreased to 145mph. Latest forecasting expects the outer bands to reach land by Wednesday morning with Hurricane Milton hitting Wednesday evening, possibly as a Category 3.
UPDATE Oct 7th, 7:30 PM EDT
Hurricane Milton is expected to remain a powerful Category 5 hurricane through Tuesday. Forecasting shows that it may weaken to a Category 3 on Wednesday before making landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast late Wednesday or early Thursday.
Milton poses a significant risk in terms of storm surge. Authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for portions of Florida’s west coast including Charlotte, Citrus, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, and Pasco.
Michael Brennan, the director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, emphasized the urgency: “If you live in a storm surge evacuation zone and you’re asked to leave by your local officials, please do that … often just tens of miles to get inland, out of that evacuation zone, to a shelter, a friend or loved one’s home.”
Ongoing debris removal efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene will continue until tropical storm-force winds make landfall.
UPDATE Oct 7th, 11:30 AM EDT
Hurricane Milton has moved into the Gulf of Mexico, strengthening from a Category 2 to a Category 5 storm in just a few hours, with sustained winds of 160 mph. The west coast of Florida is under hurricane and storm watches as Milton is forecast to make landfall on Wednesday.
The National Hurricane Center projects a path that hits the Tampa Bay area, moving across Florida and back into the Atlantic Ocean. Recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene have ramped up in light of the new hurricane. Governor DeSantis has prioritized debris removal from the previous storm to avoid the potential for dangerous projectiles.
Florida Division of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie said the state is preparing “for the largest evacuation that we have seen, most likely since 2017, Hurricane Irma.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Governor DeSantis and state officials as they prepare the region for the coming hurricane.
- For safety for the people of Florida and that residents follow evacuation orders when they are given.
- For the crews endeavoring to clear the debris from Helene ahead of Milton reaching land.
Sources: USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, National Hurricane Center
