Milton is now a hurricane: How strong will it be and where will it hit; what counties will be affected?
Florida is bracing for another hurricane that is expected to arrive less than two weeks after Helene. Here is where Milton is forecast to hit.
Milton has now officially become a hurricane churning up strength in the western part of the Gulf of Mexico. Meteorologists are forecasting that the tropical cyclone will move east this week heading toward Florida. The current forecast is that Milton will become a major hurricane, a Category 3 or higher.
While it is still too early “to specify the exact magnitude and location of the greatest impacts,” according to the National Weather Service (NWS), “there is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds for portions of the west coast of Florida beginning Tuesday night or early Wednesday.”
Milton is now a hurricane: How strong will it be and where will it hit; what counties will be affected?
Florida will receive a one-two punch this week. Currently there is a low pressure system that will bring heavy rainfall to the peninsula on Sunday and Monday. With no respite, rainfall associated with Milton is expected to hit the peninsula starting Tuesday through Wednesday night. “This rainfall will bring the risk of flash, urban and areal flooding, along with the potential of moderate to major river flooding,” advises the NWS.
On Sunday morning, Governor Ron DeSantis issues and State of Emergency declaration for the following counties: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia.
Officials are asking those in the projected path of Milton to “not focus on the small details of the current forecast, as there remains significant uncertainty in the eventual track and intensity of Milton.”
“Residents in the Florida Peninsula should follow any advice given by local officials and check back for updates to the forecast,” advises the NWS.
DeSantis posted on X that “there is still time to prepare your homes, organize your disaster plan, and implement plans to keep yourself and your family safe.”
Efforts have been stepped up to remove debris from Hurricane Helene in areas that were damaged by the storm not two weeks ago and are in the path of Milton. “Local debris sites must be open 24/7, and we have hundreds of personnel on the ground assisting in removal,” the Florida governor said.