Hurricane Milton headed towards Florida with major impact!

Source: Spencer Platt / Getty

Hurricane Milton intensified dramatically on Monday morning, escalating from a Category 4 to a menacing Category 5 storm with sustained winds reaching approximately 160 mph. It is now heading toward the Florida Gulf Coast, which is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall just over a week ago.

As Milton gains momentum, millions in the Tampa Bay area face potential evacuation orders. The storm is expected to make landfall on Wednesday evening, and if it continues on its current trajectory, it could become the most severe hurricane to hit Tampa in over a century.

Milton is one of only 40 hurricanes recorded in the Atlantic to reach Category 5 status and one of just seven storms to transition from Category 1 to Category 5 in less than 24 hours. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) noted that Milton is the third fastest-growing storm in Atlantic history, following Hurricanes Wilma (2005) and Felix (2007).

Source: ELIZABETH RUIZ / Getty

At a press conference alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, state emergency management director Kevin Guthrie urged residents in the Tampa Bay area to evacuate. “I beg you. I implore you,” he said. “Drowning deaths from storm surge are completely preventable if you leave.”

Governor DeSantis announced that 51 counties in Florida are currently under a state of emergency. In response to the storm, President Biden declared a state of emergency for Florida, allowing federal assistance to support state and local efforts in preparation for Hurricane Milton.

Additionally, the Mexican government has issued a hurricane watch for its coast from Celestún to Cabo Catoche, along with a tropical storm warning from Celestún to Cancun, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Residents in the Florida Peninsula, Florida Keys, and northwestern Bahamas are also advised to closely monitor Milton’s progress.

Current Location and Path of Hurricane Milton

As of 12 p.m. ET on Monday:

• Milton was located about 125 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico.
• The storm was approximately 715 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida.
• Maximum sustained winds were recorded at 160 mph.
• Milton is moving east-southeast at a speed of 9 mph.