Hurricane Milton, which has weakened to a Category 3 storm, remains a powerful force as it approaches Florida’s central west coast. The National Hurricane Center reports that the storm is expected to make landfall Wednesday night, bringing destructive winds and triggering tornadic supercell storms across the state’s southern peninsula.
Already, multiple tornadoes, including a rare “multi-vortex tornado,” have been confirmed by the National Weather Service in Miami. Tornado warnings, alongside hurricane and storm surge alerts, are in effect for cities across Florida, especially as storm surges begin pounding the southwestern coastline.
Initially a Category 5 monster with winds exceeding 180 mph, Milton has slowed slightly as it nears the coast. As of 5 p.m. ET Wednesday, its sustained winds were clocked at 120 mph. The storm is still expected to make landfall near southern Sarasota late Wednesday evening, likely as a Category 3 hurricane, with meteorologists warning of potentially devastating impacts despite the downgrading.
Meteorologists predict that Hurricane Milton will strike the southern Sarasota area between 10 p.m. and midnight ET. Although earlier forecasts suggested it might hit as a Category 4 storm, the shift to Category 3 hasn’t mitigated the risk. The massive storm could bring catastrophic storm surges, flooding, and dangerous winds to central and southwest Florida, particularly around Tampa Bay and Sarasota, where surges could reach as high as 13 feet—enough to submerge a single-story building.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has urged residents to heed evacuation orders. “We’re going to have impacts far beyond wherever the eye of the storm is,” he warned, adding that the storm’s effects will be broad and devastating, particularly with respect to storm surges.
Evacuations have jammed highways across the state as millions of Floridians flee Milton’s path. Gov. DeSantis has declared states of emergency for 51 counties, warning residents to prepare for power outages and urging those in mandatory evacuation zones to leave immediately. Shelters across the state are open, with space for up to 200,000 people, although only 31,000 were occupied as of Tuesday night.
Gas shortages have complicated the exodus, with more than 59% of gas stations around Tampa Bay reporting fuel outages. Floridians have been lining up sandbags, boarding up windows, and moving boats inland in last-minute efforts to protect property.
Airports and schools across the state have shut down, and major Orlando theme parks like Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios have suspended operations. Flights out of Florida have been fully booked, with airlines adding extra routes to help residents evacuate.
As Milton draws closer, its threat remains severe. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said, “Helene was a wake-up call. This is literally catastrophic,” referring to the previous hurricane’s impact just weeks ago. She urged residents to follow evacuation orders, warning that staying behind could mean risking their lives.
President Joe Biden has approved emergency declarations for Florida and postponed international trips to oversee the federal response. He has called on all residents in Milton’s path to evacuate and follow local orders, emphasizing the storm’s life-threatening potential.
Despite the slightly diminished strength of the hurricane, Milton still poses a serious threat to Florida’s Gulf Coast, with storm surge, flooding, and destructive winds expected to cause widespread devastation across the region.