Associated Press report
Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helen battered the Florida coastline, Milton intensified into a major hurricane heading toward the state.
The system is threatening the densely populated Tampa metropolitan area, which has a population of more than 3.3 million people, and threatens the same stretch of coastline that was struck by Helen.
Traffic was heavy on northbound Interstate 75 Tuesday as evacuees fled ahead of Milton. Staff were also busy cleaning up the debris left behind by Helen.
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When did Milton land?
Milton will make landfall on Florida's west coast late Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center's live hurricane tracker. It is expected to be a Category 3 storm with winds of 111-129 mph (180-210 km/h) when it makes landfall in the Tampa Bay area, which has not experienced a head-on hit from a major hurricane in more than 10 years.
It will likely maintain hurricane strength as it moves across central Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean. The road would largely protect other states ravaged by Helen, which killed at least 230 people as it moved from Florida to the Carolinas.
How strong will it be?
Milton rapidly intensified over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. “We have to prepare for significant impacts along the west coast of Florida,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters Tuesday morning.
Milton, a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (285 kph), was centered about 675 miles (1,085 kilometers) southwest of Tampa late Monday afternoon.
By Tuesday morning, winds had weakened to 145 mph (233 kph) and the hurricane was downgraded to Category 4. Its center is approximately 545 miles (877 kilometers) southwest of Tampa. The hurricane center said Milton “will remain an extremely dangerous hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida.”
How severe are the losses expected?
Florida's entire Gulf Coast is particularly vulnerable to storm surge.
Helen came ashore in the Florida Panhandle, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) from Tampa, but still drowned in the Tampa area due to waves that were about 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.5 meters) above normal tide levels.
Forecasters warned of a possible storm surge of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) in Tampa Bay. This is the highest forecast ever recorded for this location.
Storms can also bring massive flooding. Rainfall amounts of 5 inches to 1 foot (13 to 30 centimeters) are expected on the Florida Peninsula, with up to 18 inches (45 centimeters) in some areas.
What if I have travel plans to this area of Florida?
Tampa International Airport said it would stop flights at 9 a.m. Tuesday. The airport posted on X that it is not a shelter for people or vehicles.
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport said it is in a mandatory evacuation zone and will close after the last flight takes off on Tuesday.
How ready is Mexico?
Mexican officials are organizing buses to evacuate people from the low-lying coastal city of Progreso in the Yucatan Peninsula after Mexico's national weather agency said Hurricane Milton “could hit between Celeston and Progreso.”
Seleston is a low-lying nature reserve on the western tip of the peninsula, home to tens of thousands of flamingos. Progreso in the east is a shipping and cruise port with a population of approximately 40,000 people.
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