WASHINGTON, DC -- HURRICANE Milton has slowed down further but continues to maintain its forward speed as it poses a significant threat to Florida, which remains directly in its path.
In its latest update, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted that the storm remains a strong Category 4 hurricane. The eye of the storm is projected to make landfall near the Tampa Bay area, where officials have been urging residents to evacuate. The region is expected to experience storm surges ranging from 2 to 15 feet in some areas, posing a severe risk to life and property.
As of the 2:00 p.m. update, the NHC reported that the eye of Hurricane Milton was located near latitude 26.3° N and longitude 84.0° W, moving northeast at approximately 16 mph (26 km/h).
The NHC forecast indicates that Milton will continue moving northeast through tonight, turning east-northeast and then east on Thursday and Friday. On this trajectory, the center of Milton is expected to cross the eastern Gulf of Mexico today, make landfall along Florida’s west-central coast late tonight or early Thursday morning, and then move off Florida’s east coast into the western Atlantic by Thursday afternoon.
The NHC noted in its latest outlook that the storm’s forward speed is expected to decrease later this evening as it approaches the shore.
On Tuesday, Milton’s winds reached up to 185 mph, classifying it as a powerful Category 5 hurricane before it was downgraded and later upgraded again. As of the latest update, Milton remains a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 130 mph (215 km/h) and higher gusts. According to the NHC, Milton is likely to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane when it makes landfall tonight.
Hurricane-force winds extend up to 35 miles (55 km) from the storm’s center, while tropical-storm-force winds stretch outward up to 250 miles (280 km).
Numerous Storm Surge Warnings, Watches, and Hurricane Warnings remain in effect as Florida braces for Milton’s arrival.
The storm made a slight shift since the morning report, and the eye of the storm is no longer likely to make direct landfall in the Tampa Bay area, where several nationals from St. Kitts and Nevis reside. However, due to the storm’s intensity, storm surges are expected to be a major concern for those areas.