JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hurricane Milton is expected to fluctuate in intensity over the next day but will remain extremely dangerous through landfall in Florida late Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
The National Hurricane Center said the West Coast of Florida will begin to see increased winds Wednesday afternoon.
As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, Hurricane Milton was packing sustained winds of 155 mph with higher gusts, dropping just below Category 5 status (157 mph winds) to a Category 4. Its position was about 250 miles southwest of Tampa.
Milton wobbled on Tuesday, but the longer-term motion is toward the northeast near 16 mph.
On the forecast track, the center of Milton will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico today, make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida late tonight or early Thursday morning, and move off the east coast of Florida over the western Atlantic Ocean Thursday afternoon.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.
The most recent minimum central pressure estimated from Hurricane Hunter aircraft observations is 915 mb.
Because Milton is a more compact storm, it is harder to predict because its speed, strength and track can shift very quickly.
Be sure to follow our updates on each advisory because things could change fast with this storm, and we want you to be safe.
Watches and warnings for Florida
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
- Florida’s west coast from Flamingo northward to Yankeetown, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay
- Sebastian Inlet Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia, including the St. Johns River
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- Florida’s west coast from Bonita Beach northward to Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay
- Florida’s east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line northward to Ponte Vedra Beach
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- Dry Tortugas
- Lake Okeechobee
- Florida’s west coast from Chokoloskee to south of Bonita Beach
- Florida’s east coast north of Ponte Vedra Beach to the mouth of the St. Marys River
- Florida’s east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to the Palm Beach/Martin County Line
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
- Florida Keys, including Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay
- Lake Okeechobee
- Florida’s west coast from Flamingo to south of Bonita Beach
- Florida’s west coast from north of Suwanee River to Indian Pass
- Florida east coast south of the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to Flamingo
- North of Ponte Vedra Beach Florida to the Savannah River
- Extreme northwestern Bahamas, including Grand Bahama Island, the Abacos, and Bimini
Impacts
RAINFALL: Rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches, with localized totals up to 18 inches, are expected across central to northern portions of the Florida Peninsula through Thursday. This rainfall brings the risk of catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with moderate to major river flooding.
- Locally: The lowest accumulation of rain begins in Southeast Georgia and increases closer to Flagler, Putnam and Volusia counties. Flash flooding probabilities range from 15% to 40% with Southeast Georgia at the lowest risk and counties south of I-10 and along the coast with the highest chances.
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area across Florida beginning this evening through early Thursday and are possible in the hurricane watch area on Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in the warning area on the west coast of Florida around midday, spreading across the peninsula and reaching the east coast tonight. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in the warning area on the east coast of Florida tonight and along the Georgia coast on Thursday.
- Tropical storm force winds are at a minimum of 39 mph, sustained for at least 60 seconds and up to 73 mph. Anything above 73 mph is considered hurricane-force winds. Arrival time for winds could start as soon as late Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning, well before the eye makes landfall.
SURF: Swells generated by Milton are expected to continue to affect much of the Gulf Coast during the next day or two and are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.