Hurricane Milton live updates: Category 5, trajectory, evacuations, preparations
Hurricane Milton: Latest Updates
Hurricane Milton: Live tracker
Stay with us for the latest on Hurricane Milton as it barrels toward the Sunshine State.
The storm has developed into a Category 5 fueled by above-average temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to reach Florida on Wednesday afternoon, bringing with it life-threatening conditions, including heavy rain, high winds, and massive storm surge.
Already, a handful of counties in Florida have imposed mandatory evacuation orders, as storm surge is predicted to reach more than twelve feet (or more) along the state's west coast. This storm comes less than a month after Hurricane Helene decimated much of the northern portion of the West Coast, leaving those already reeling from the dead impacts of these storms in the line of fire again.
The latest from AS USA on Hurricane Milton:
Florida on the move
More than 1 million residents have been told to evacuate ahead of the imminent arrival of Hurricane Milton.
The evacuation is already leading to severe traffic jams in parts of the state.
More from Cancun
Another video shot in Cancun again where the electrical activity from the severe weather can be appreciated.
Milton rocks Mexico
Hurricane Milton has made landfall and this social media post from the Mexican city of Cancun in the Yucatan province shows the force of Milton.
Hurricane Milton / Lorenzo Hernandez / REUTERS
Waiting for Milton
Hurricane Milton was expected to grow larger on Tuesday as it threatened Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on its way to Florida, where more than a million people were ordered to evacuate from its path.
The densely populated west coast of Florida, still reeling from the devastating Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago, braced for landfall on Wednesday.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center projected the storm was likely to hit near the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, home to more than 3 million people and where some evacuees rushed to dispose of mounds of debris left behind by Helene on their way out of town.
With maximum sustained winds of 165 miles per hour (270 kph), Milton was categorized as the strongest level storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale.
Wind speeds could decrease to 145 mph (233 kph) by the time it approaches Florida, according to the hurricane center. That would still be a Category 4 storm, meaning catastrophic damage will occur, including power outages expected to last days.
Hurricane Milton is now a 175 MPH Category 5 storm
Hurricane Milton is now a 175 MPH Category 5 storm and tied as the 4th strongest Atlantic hurricane in history.
In anticipation of Hurricane Milton’s arrival, the Florida government is distributing sandbags, which can help prevent flooding in homes, create barriers to divert water and protect infrastructure.
Find out where to get yours, depending on your county.
Hurricane Milton packs 175 mph winds
The National Hurricane Center is warning all those in the path of Milton that the Category 5 hurricane is now packing maximum winds of 175 mph.
With wind this powerful, catastrophic damage can occur. Residents are urged to heed all warnings and advisories of local officials.
Hurricane Milton: Evacuation zones in Florida
According to the NHC, Milton will produce destructive storm surge along Florida's West Coast on Wednesday, which means high potential for death for residents in the area. For this reason, several regions are under mandatory evacuation orders.
Counties under such orders include Charlotte, Hillsborough, Citrus, Manatee, Hernando, Lee and Pasco. Areas under voluntary orders include Glades County, Sarasota County and Okeechobee County.
For a live map update, visit the official Florida Disaster website, where you can insert your location for easier viewing.
The latest deadline to evacuate is Tuesday night, Oct. 8, as the hurricane is expected to make landfall Wednesday morning. For more information, alerts, and real-time updates, visit the NHC website.
NHC provides another update on Hurricane Milton
To prepare residents for the potential danger of hurricanes, the National Weather Services released periodic updates throughout the day as a major storm develops. The situation for Hurricane Milton, which is now a Category 5 storm, is no different. Less than an hour ago, the report from the NWS said that the storm would bring a "life-threatening storm surge with destructive waves" to the Yucatan Peninsula tonight.
As the storm moves towards Florida, it is expected to "grow in size and remain an extremely dangerous hurricane." These conditions will create "life-threatening conditions," and the agency advises residents to adhere to any evacuation order by local officials. A complete list can be found on the state's website.
Additionally, another storm is developing off the coast of South Florida, and residents there should be prepared for "heavy rainfall" that "brings [with it] the "risk of considerable flash, urban, and areal flooding."
Stay safe, and stay informed.
As climate change leads to stronger hurricanes and typhoons, some scientists believe the Saffir-Simpson scale, developed in the 1960s, should be adjusted to add a Category 6. Read more...
John Morales provides an emotional update on Hurricane Milton
The storm is currently impacting the Yucatan Peninsula as it stands at Category 5, with what trusted meteorologist John Morales describes as the storm's "dirty side" impacting communities across that region of Mexico. The residents in those areas may not have the infrastructure to protect them from the storm, warns Morales.
The longtime weatherman was emotional when speaking about the storm's impact in Mexico. The country is expected to see the effects of the hurricane on Tuesday as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico.
Winds high as 175 recorded by hurricane monitors
As the National Hurricane Center evaluated Hurricane Milton's power, wind speeds as high as 175 miles per hour were recorded. Hurricanes with winds above 160 miles per hour are categorized as Category 5 storms, the highest level.
The storm is expected to weaken before making landfall, but officials have warned residents in the affected zone to evacuate if they are ordered to do so.
Which counties have imposed evacuation orders in Florida?
According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, six mandatory evacuation orders (for at least some residents) have been issued by the following counties:
- Pasco County.
However, in another set of counties, officials are warning that residents should consider leaving if they are in a low lying area of live in a manufactured or mobile home. All of those can be found on the Division's website as the list is changing rapidly as the storm approaches.
Milton develops into a Category 5 storm
Thanks in part to unseasonably warm temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Milton has developed rapidly into a Category 5 storm. Forecasts project that the storm will make landfall around Tampa on Wednesday evening, bringing with it life-threatening conditions.
The National Hurricane Center's most recent report on the storm highlights that aircraft monitoring the storm's development captured wind speeds of around 160 miles per hour. Some forecasts show the storm losing intensity as it moves closer to the land, but officials are still warning residents to prepare for flooding and loss of power. Additionally, some counties are already beginning to implement mandatory evacuation orders.
Latest update, category five
Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified and is now classified as a Category 5 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds reaching 160 mph.
This marks a significant escalation from its previous Category 3 status just hours ago.
What experts are saying about the hurricane
While we could see the peak winds come down a little bit, the storm is expected to grow in size as it nears landfall along the Florida west coast on Wednesday. It now extends inland places like Ocala, Orlando, the west of Lake Okeechobee, Pole County, Lakeland to the Cedar Key area.
Everyone in this area is at risk of seeing damaging hurricane-force winds during Wednesday, into Wednesday night.
Biden declares state of emergency
President Joe Biden has issued a statewide emergency declaration for Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches Tampa Bay, with landfall anticipated on Wednesday night.
In response to the situation, the president has directed federal resources from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist state, tribal, and local response efforts, as stated in a White House announcement made on Monday.
Meteorologists predict that Hurricane Milton could reach major hurricane status, potentially becoming a Category 3 storm, by the time it makes landfall. The storm is tapping into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, fueling its rapid growth.
To be classified as a Category 3 hurricane, Milton would need to maintain winds of at least 111 mph. Some models suggest the storm could potentially reach Category 3 status with winds up to 115 mph by the time it makes landfall.
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.”
What will Milton bring?
Hurricane Milton is forecasted to bring heavy rainfall and life-threatening storm surges, particularly impacting areas still recovering from previous storms like Helene and Debby. Wind speeds could exceed 110 mph, posing serious risks to infrastructure and safety
Less than 10 days after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida, the Sunshine State is bracing for another potentially devastating blow from Milton.
Here’s when it’s forecast to hit and what areas could be affected.
Live tracker of the hurricane
Watch the live tracker to monitor the weather system.
Welcome to the feed
As Hurricane Milton approaches the Gulf Coast, residents and officials are ramping up preparations for what is anticipated to be a significant weather event.
The storm, which has already intensified into a hurricane, is expected to make landfall along Florida's west coast by Tuesday or Wednesday, potentially as a Category 3 hurricane.