Milton forecast | Hurricane 'extremely powerful' as it approaches Florida

Hurricane Milton weakened slightly Tuesday morning to a Category 4 storm before it is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday night.

The maximum sustained winds were 155 mph, and the National Hurricane classified the storm as "extremely powerful."

"While fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida," the center said in an overnight update.

The storm could still strengthen back to a Category 5 classification between now and landfall as the eye of the storm restructures.

On Monday, the National Weather Service in Tampa said if the storm stays on the current track, it will be the worst storm to impact the area in over 100 years.

It is the second hurricane to hit the Florida coastline within two weeks. Florida, North Carolina and much of the south are still recovering from the destruction caused by the Category 4 Helene on Sept. 26.

More than 200 people were killed across six states in the deadliest named storm to hit the U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, according to Axios.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded his state of emergency declaration Sunday to 51 counties and urged residents to prepare for potential power outages, restock hurricane kits, fill their gas tanks, stay alert for emergency alerts, know their evacuation zones, and ensure they have enough food and water for seven days.

DeSantis added that debris from Hurricane Helene needed to be cleared before Milton's arrival so it wouldn't become projectiles.

More than a dozen Florida counties were under mandatory evacuation orders Monday. DeSantis also suspended tolls across central and west Florida to try and make travel easier.

Forecasters warned of a possible 8- to 12-foot storm surge in Tampa Bay and said flash and river flooding could result from 5 to 10 inches of rain in mainland Florida and the Keys, with as much as 15 inches in places.

Tampa International Airport posted on X that it will suspend flights at 9 a.m. Tuesday and reopen "when it is safe to do so" and added the airport is not a shelter for people or vehicles.

The Florida Division of Emergency Services announced it had partnered with Uber to provide free rides to and from shelters as residents plan to evacuate.

President Joe Biden announced Monday he approved an emergency declaration for Florida, as well as ordered federal assistance to supplement response efforts that might occur due to emergency conditions from Hurricane Milton.
--------------------------------------------------
For more on the lead story: https://komonews.com/news/nation-worl...
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:

KOMO News on Facebook:   / komonews  
KOMO News on Twitter:   / komonews  
KOMO News on Instagram:   / komo4  
KOMO News on TikTok:   / komo4seattle  

Subscribe to KOMO on YouTube:    / @komonews  

Watch more top local news stories:    • Видео  

For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit http://www.komonews.com/
Watch our live newscasts and other live video at https://komonews.com/watch

Download our iOS App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/komo-...

Download our Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...

Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:

Email us: [email protected]
Call the Newsroom: 206.404.4000

KOMO News (ABC 4) provides the latest breaking news, sports, weather, traffic, and local event coverage in the Seattle and Western Washington/Puget Sound area including Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, Bellingham, Yakima, and surrounding communities

#komo #komonews #komo4 #komo4news #seattle #seattlenews #washingtonnews #Milton #forecast #hurricane #hurricanemilton #track #cat5 #category5 #weather #florida #tampabay #evacuation #helene #hurricanehelene #storm #miltonforecast #miltonhurricane #hurricanemilton2024 #hurricanemiltonlive #miltonhurricanelive
hurricane milton
milton hurricane
hurricane milton 2024
hurricane milton live
milton hurricane live

This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at [email protected]