Hurricane Milton update: Now a Category 5 storm, it’s expected to make landfall in Sarasota, just south of Tampa Bay
Hurricane Milton update: With the Category 5 hurricane now projected to make landfall around Sarasota, just south of Tampa Bay, Hurricane Milton still threatens Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Milton has reportedly maintained wind speeds of 160 mph as it advances northeastward at 12 mph as of 2 a.m. Wednesday ET.
Previously projected to make landfall close to Tampa, the most recent forecasts have it occurring close to Sarasota.
Where might Hurricane Milton land?
The NHC projected in an update Monday at 5 a.m. Milton’s eye would be over central Florida about 2 a.m. Thursday, thus making landfall sometime Wednesday evening.
Forecasters in an update released at 11 p.m. later the same day said Milton may strike Wednesday at roughly 8 p.m.
The present NHC prediction has the core of the storm centered over central Florida at 7 a.m. Thursday and just off Florida’s west coast at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cautioned citizens in a Tuesday briefing, meanwhile, that the effects will be much more extensive than the immediate landing zone.
“I would just inform folks, one, we will have effects well beyond wherever the eye of the storm passes. Two, you may reach Southwest Florida from Citrus County anyplace for landfall. Over the following 12 to eighteen hours, we will know more. However, cones, all this you see, the effects will be more general, particularly with relation to storm surge.”
According to meteorologist Bryan Bennett, the storm impacting Sarasota instead of downtown Tampa would have “massive implications” on the surge prediction.
“Not only may Tampa Bay not have a significant storm surge, but it could also go negative, somewhat draining like it did with Ian. Not excellent for Sarasota, Siesta Key, Venice, & Englewood with 10 foot or bigger storm surge,” he said on X Tuesday night. “Generally some good news this evening for the Bay (downtown Tampa, downtown St. Pete, St. Pete Beach, Clearwater) but, a shift of 25 miles further north and we are talking a 16 foot difference in places like downtown Tampa.”
The Projected Route of Hurricane Milton
Milton’s route has been under observation by the NHC for several days. As it hits the central Florida peninsula on Thursday, then travels east into the Atlantic Ocean north of the Bahamas, it is presently expected to stay a hurricane.
From Flamingo northward to Yankeetown, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay, Florida’s west coast is under a storm surge warning; on the Atlantic coast from Sebastian Inlet Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia, including the St. Johns River, same is true. Some places are predicted to see more than 10-foot storm surges.
From Bonita Beach northward to Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay, Florida’s west coast is under a Hurricane Warning; on the Atlantic coast, from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line north to Ponte Vedra Beach.
The storm surge warnings in place are shown on an NHC map.
Though the planned schedule has been moved out to the evening, the storm may make landfall as early as Wednesday afternoon.
Map of Hurricane Milton Vacuumation
More than a dozen counties have issued mandatory evacuation orders; DeSantis issued voluntary evacuation orders over the weekend covering more than fifty-one counties. He advised locals to comply with his directives and be ready for perhaps historic effects.
Particularly crucial near Florida’s west-central coast, where storm surges might reach more than 10 feet in some places is evacuation.
Every county has particular evacuation instructions shown on an interactive map created by floridadisaster.org.
