Hurricane Milton has been reclassified as a Category 5 storm, intensifying as it makes its way toward Florida’s west coast. The powerful tempest threatens to deliver a potentially historic direct strike to the Tampa and St. Petersburg areas, bringing with it towering storm surges and transforming debris from the devastation of Hurricane Helene just twelve days prior into dangerous projectiles.
While the wind speeds of Hurricane Milton Path Update have experienced a slight decrease, the storm’s classification remains unchanged, according to the latest advisory from the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The hurricane boasts maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph). As of 11 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, it was located approximately 405 miles (650 kilometers) southwest of Tampa, Florida. The storm has also accelerated, moving toward the state at 12 mph (19 kph), and is anticipated to continue this trajectory overnight into Wednesday.
Forecasters predict that Milton will make landfall late Wednesday night along Florida’s west coast near Tampa, but they emphasize the difficulty in accurately forecasting the precise location of impact, even with just 24 hours to go.
The National Hurricane Center has advised residents to evacuate or take necessary precautions by the end of Tuesday. “Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida,” the advisory cautioned.
In response to the looming threat, Charlotte County has expanded its evacuation order further inland to what it designates as “Zone C Yellow.” This added evacuation area, southeast of Sarasota, affects residents living in mobile or manufactured homes, which constitutes around 11% of the more than 202,600 individuals residing in the county, as per U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
As of Tuesday evening, Hurricane Milton continues to chart a course toward Florida’s west coast, moving northeast across the Gulf of Mexico at approximately 10 mph (17 kph). The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center reported that as of 8 p.m. EDT, the storm was situated about 440 miles (710 kilometers) southwest of Tampa, maintaining its status as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained wind speeds of 165 mph (270 kph).
“While fluctuations in intensity are likely as Milton traverses the eastern Gulf of Mexico, it is expected to remain a significant and dangerous hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida on Wednesday night,” the hurricane center noted.
Storm surge and hurricane warnings remain active for both Florida’s west and east coasts, emphasizing the need for vigilance and preparedness in the affected regions.
