Hurricane Milton, which reached Category 5 status late Tuesday, has now downgraded to a Category 4 storm as it continues its approach toward the Tampa region. The powerful hurricane is expected to make landfall soon along Florida’s Gulf Coast, just two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the southern U.S.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Milton is still classified as “a dangerous major hurricane” and is projected to make landfall late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
Current Impacts in Florida Although Milton hasn’t officially made landfall yet, Florida is already feeling its effects. Hurricane-force and tropical storm winds are spreading across the state throughout Wednesday, and areas in Southwest Florida are currently experiencing tornado activity.
Evacuations Rick Davis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tampa, emphasized that while most residents have already evacuated, there may still be a small window of time for those who haven’t. “There’s still a little bit of time this morning for anyone who hesitated to evacuate,” Davis told USA TODAY.
Landfall Location The storm is predicted to make landfall somewhere around the Manatee County/Sarasota County region along central Florida’s west coast, with a margin of error of up to 50 miles north or south. However, Davis cautioned against focusing too much on the exact landfall location. “The storm’s eye will expand, and the wind field will grow larger as it approaches land, meaning areas far from the direct path will still experience severe impacts,” he explained.
Storm Surge and Rainfall Milton’s storm surge presents what the NHC calls “an extremely life-threatening situation.” The state is expected to receive between 5 and 12 inches of rain, with some areas in central and northern Florida potentially seeing up to 18 inches.
John Cangialosi, an NHC specialist, warned that Milton could become one of the most destructive hurricanes ever to hit west-central Florida. The NHC has urged residents to prepare for extended power outages and to take immediate steps to protect their lives and property. Life-threatening flooding is also a major concern.
“We need people to take this very seriously,” Davis urged. “This will be a devastating event.”