Just two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the Florida coastline, Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm and is heading towards the state, posing a significant threat to the densely populated Tampa metro area, home to over 3.3 million residents.
When Will Milton Make Landfall?
The National Hurricane Center’s Live Hurricane Tracker indicates that Milton is expected to make landfall on Florida’s west coast on Wednesday. It may weaken slightly to a Category 3 hurricane upon hitting the Tampa Bay region, which hasn’t faced a direct strike from a major hurricane in over a century. The storm could maintain hurricane strength as it moves across central Florida toward the Atlantic, potentially sparing other states still recovering from Helene, which claimed at least 230 lives along its path from Florida to the Carolinas.
Current Status of the Storm
Milton intensified rapidly over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Monday. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reported that the hurricane’s strength has exceeded earlier predictions. With maximum sustained winds reaching 180 mph (285 kph), the storm’s center was located about 675 miles (1,085 kilometers) southwest of Tampa by late afternoon. The Tampa Bay area is still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
Expected Damage and Flooding
The Gulf Coast of Florida is particularly vulnerable to storm surges. Hurricane Helene, which made landfall about 150 miles (240 kilometers) from Tampa, caused drowning deaths in the area due to surges of 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.5 meters). Forecasters now predict an 8 to 12-foot storm surge (2.4 to 3.6 meters) in Tampa Bay, the highest ever anticipated for the region, nearly double the surge levels seen during Helene. Widespread flooding is also expected, with forecasts of 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters) of rain for mainland Florida and the Keys, and as much as 15 inches (38 centimeters) in certain areas.
Travel Advisory
Tampa International Airport has announced that it will cease operations at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The airport has stated it will not serve as a shelter for people or vehicles. St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, located in a mandatory evacuation zone, will close following its last flight on Tuesday.
Preparations in Mexico
In Mexico, officials are organizing evacuations for residents in the low-lying coastal city of Progreso on the Yucatan Peninsula, as Hurricane Milton is projected to impact the area between Celestun and Progreso late Monday or early Tuesday. Celestun, a nature reserve known for its flamingo population, and Progreso, a port city with around 40,000 residents, are both bracing for the storm’s arrival.
