Hurricane Milton tracker and forecast: Category 5 storm poses 'extremely serious threat' to Florida
Hurricane Milton intensified into a Category 5 storm on Monday as it heads towards the west coast of Florida.
The hurricane is anticipated to make landfall as a Category 3 storm either Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
Milton is approaching as residents of Florida continue to heal from the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.
"Homeland Security: Evacuate Immediately!"
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas tweeted on Monday evening that anyone facing an evacuation order because of the danger posed by Hurricane Milton should evacuate immediately.
"Hurricane Milton is growing stronger than ever before. If you’ve been told to evacuate, do so IMMEDIATELY," he posted on Twitter. "@DHSgov, the Biden-Harris Administration, along with local and state officials, are getting emergency resources ready. Keep updated through @FEMA or the FEMA app."
FEMA Prepares Milton, Addresses Harmful Misinformation
Keith Turi, the interim director of response and recovery at FEMA, spoke on Monday about the agency's plans for Hurricane Milton. He emphasized the importance of people in the storm's path to heed the warnings and take the situation seriously.
Turi emphasized the importance of evacuating by stating that anyone in an evacuation zone or who has been instructed to leave should comply without delay.
He responded to false information and conspiracy theories regarding the storm, describing them as "very harmful." While in Georgia on Friday, former President Donald Trump repeated the unfounded assertion that FEMA had redirected disaster relief funds to cities experiencing a rise in migrant populations.
"It's really sad, because these people have experienced very traumatic events," Turi explained. "They've lost family members, their homes, and now they're swayed by inaccurate information."
Milton's Storm Surge Warning: Winds Hit 180 MPH
The National Hurricane Center has updated its predictions for the storm surge associated with Hurricane Milton, increasing the expected levels.
The National Hurricane Center reports that certain parts of Florida's west coast may see wave heights reaching between 10 to 15 feet. They have labeled Milton as a "very serious" danger.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the winds have reached speeds of 180 mph.
Helene Debris Removal Continues Until Strong Winds
Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the effort to clear debris left by Hurricane Helene will keep going until the winds from Hurricane Milton reach tropical storm levels in Florida. He mentioned that crews have already removed a total of 663 truckloads of debris.
.@FHPTampa is still helping local organizations and guiding trucks in Pinellas County as they remove debris from Hurricane Helene, making sure the region is ready for Hurricane Milton.
When debris meets strong winds, it creates a hazardous situation. pic.twitter.com/3QkKV8dLc8
Certainly! Here’s a rewritten version of that section: — The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (@FLHSMV) posted this on October 7, 2024.
Schools in over 20 counties will shut down on Tuesday, with additional closures expected on Wednesday as Hurricane Milton approaches.
According to DeSantis, there isn't a fuel shortage in Florida. While it's true that some gas stations have temporarily run out of gas, he assured that more supplies are on the way.
Darren Reynolds from ABC News
Hurricane Milton, which is now classified as a Category 5 with winds reaching 175 mph, is positioned around 700 miles southwest of Tampa.
Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane within only 10 hours.
Milton is now recognized as the third-largest increase in wind speed for a hurricane over a 24-hour period in the Atlantic Basin. This ranking is based on data collected since the launch of weather satellites in the 1960s. The only two hurricanes that strengthened more quickly were Wilma in 2005 and Felix in 2007.
Milton is anticipated to stay a strong Category 5 hurricane until Tuesday.
It is expected to downgrade to a Category 3 storm by Wednesday, and it will likely hit Florida's Gulf Coast late Wednesday or early Thursday.
IMAGE: Projected route of Hurricane Milton. (ABC News)
Hurricane alerts are currently in place for Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, and Orlando.
One of the major dangers posed by Milton will be the storm surge.
Hurricane Helene recently caused a historic storm surge of 6 to 8 feet in the Tampa Bay region, and now Hurricane Milton is expected to exceed that with a surge of 8 to 12 feet. Fort Myers may experience a surge between 5 and 10 feet, while Naples could face a surge of 4 to 7 feet.
Milton is expected to produce significant rainfall, which will be combined with the precipitation from another system currently affecting Florida.
By the end of the week, we could see widespread rainfall totaling 5 to 10 inches, with some areas potentially receiving as much as 15 inches. This heavy rain may lead to significant flooding in urban areas and along rivers.
IMAGE: Risk of flash floods due to Hurricane Milton. (ABC News)
- Melissa Griffin from ABC News
DeSantis Ignores Harris's Call Before Hurricane Milton
According to a source close to Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor has declined to accept a phone call from Vice President Kamala Harris regarding Hurricane Milton. His team suspects that the call is driven by political motives.
DeSantis' team mentioned that the governor hasn't had a conversation with President Joe Biden in the past few days.
An American flag is displayed upside down, which is a universal symbol of distress, at a residence in Treasure Island, Florida, as Hurricane Milton is anticipated to make landfall in the middle of this week. The image was taken on October 7, 2024. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images)
On Sunday, the governor had a conversation with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and federal authorities are still collaborating with state emergency officials to get ready for Hurricane Milton's arrival.
NBC News was the first to report that DeSantis declined to accept Harris' call.
On Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the administration continues to collaborate with state and local leaders to ensure that resources are strategically placed before Milton makes landfall.
- Will McDuffie and Jay O’Brien from ABC News
Disney World Stays Open For Fun!
Walt Disney World Resort is now open and running as usual.
"The resort stated on its website that they are keeping a close eye on the storm's trajectory while ensuring the safety of both their Guests and Cast Members remains their top priority."
ABC News is owned by Disney.
- Yi-Jin Yu from ABC News
Counties Impose Mandatory Evacuation Orders
Authorities have issued compulsory evacuation orders in certain areas of counties located on Florida's western coastline. This includes regions in Charlotte, Citrus, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, and Pasco.
IMAGE: Recovery teams clear away the remnants of flooding caused by Hurricane Helene near the Gulf of Mexico as Milton approaches, Clearwater Beach, Florida, October 7, 2024. (Chris O'Meara/AP)
Michael Brennan, the head of NOAA's National Hurricane Center, advised viewers during an ABC News Live segment on Sunday, "If you're in a storm surge evacuation area and local authorities request that you evacuate, please comply. You don't need to travel great distances to find safety; often, a drive of just a few miles inland will take you out of the evacuation zone and to a safer location, such as a shelter or the home of a friend or family member."
Brennan encouraged residents of Florida to put together an emergency kit that includes enough non-perishable food, water, medicine, and batteries to last for several days.
IMAGE: A local resident prepares for Hurricane Milton's anticipated arrival in Palm Harbor, Florida, on October 6, 2024, by securing his windows. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images)
Milton Intensifies To Category 5 Hurricane
Milton quickly escalated to a Category 5 hurricane by late Monday morning. By the afternoon, its power surged further, with winds hitting 175 mph.
In just a few hours, Milton escalated from a Category 2 to a Category 3, then reached Category 4, and ultimately became a Category 5.
Orlando, Tampa Airports Set To Close Soon
The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, located near Tampa, Florida, will close at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday and remain closed throughout Wednesday and Thursday.
Airport officials tweeted, "The airport is located in an area where evacuation is necessary and it cannot serve as a public shelter. Make sure to get ready and stay safe."
Tampa International Airport will halt its operations starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and will remain closed until officials have a chance to evaluate any potential damage caused by the storm.
Officials announced that the Orlando International Airport will be shutting down on Wednesday morning and will resume operations as soon as it is deemed safe.
The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport will shut down at 4 PM on Tuesday.
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