Hurricane Milton tracker: Category 4 storm barreling toward Florida, landfall expected as a “dangerous” storm

TAMPA, Fla. – Hurricane Milton weakened slightly Wednesday morning to a strong Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph.

FOX 13 meteorologists say Milton is beginning to enter a more adverse environment with strong wind shear, which will reduce the intensity of the storm before it reaches landfall. However, it could still be a Category 4 storm at landfall.

As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, Milton was located at 25.0 N and 84.8 W, about 250 miles southwest of Tampa.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton was shaking earlier Tuesday but moving northeast at 16 miles per hour. The storm is expected to gain speed and turn northeast by Wednesday night.

The NHC says fluctuations in intensity are likely as Milton moves over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but it is still expected to be a dangerous major hurricane by the time it reaches Florida's west coast.

The NHC says a turn towards the east-northeast and east is expected on Thursday and Friday. Milton will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and make landfall along the central west coast of Florida late Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning.

The storm is then expected to move across the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of Florida on Thursday afternoon.

READ: St. Pete's construction cranes could pose a hazard during Hurricane Milton

Hurricane-force winds extend 30 miles from the center of Hurricane Milton and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 51 Florida counties, while President Joe Biden approved a federal disaster declaration ahead of Milton.

Clocks and Alerts

A storm surge warning is in effect for Florida's west coast from Flamingo north to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay, and for Sebastian Inlet, Florida, to Altamaha Sound, Georgia, including the St. Johns River.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach north to the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay, and on the east coast of Florida from the St. Lucie/Martin County line north to Ponte Vedra Beach.

Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area across Florida beginning late Wednesday and early Thursday.

A portion of the Bay Area, including Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties, is under a tornado warning until 9 p.m. Wednesday. The tornado watch covers all of South Florida.

Storm surge

The National Hurricane Center says the combination of a dangerous storm surge and the high tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising water flowing inland from the coast. The water could reach the following heights above ground anywhere in the indicated areas if the peak rise occurs at the time of high tide:

• Egmont Key, FL to Boca Grande, FL – 10-15 feet
• Tampa Bay – 10-15 feet
• Anclote River, FL to Egmont Key, FL – 9-13 feet
• Boca Grande, FL to Bonita Beach, FL – 8-12 feet
• Charlotte Harbor – 8-12 feet
• Bonita Beach, FL to Chokoloskee, FL – 5-8 feet
• Aripeka, FL to Anclote River, FL – 5-8 feet
• Chokoloskee, FL to Flamingo, FL – 3-5 feet
• Sebastian Inlet, FL to Altamaha Sound, GA – 3-5 feet
• Altamaha Sound, GA to Edisto Beach, SC – 2-4 feet
• Suwannee River, FL to Aripeka, FL – 2-4 feet
• Dry Tortugas – 2-4 feet
• St. Johns River – 2-4 feet

FOX 13 meteorologists say the location where Hurricane Milton makes landfall will make a big difference in the strength of the storm surge, with areas from the eye to about 20-30 miles south of it worst affected.

What is the difference between a clock and an alert?

A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning typically occurs 36 hours before the expected first appearance of tropical storm-force winds, conditions that make external preparations difficult or dangerous.

A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A warning is typically issued 48 hours before the expected first occurrence of tropical storm force winds, conditions that make external preparations difficult or dangerous.

Hurricane Milton: Mandatory evacuations begin in the Tampa Bay Area

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a risk of life-threatening flooding from rising water flowing inland from the coast in the specified locations over the next 36 hours.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a potential for life-threatening flooding from rising water moving inland from the coast at the indicated locations over the next 48 hours.

How much rain will we get?

In Florida you can expect rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches, with some locations even up to 18 inches. The heaviest rain is expected north of the storm center.

This rainfall poses the risk of catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, as well as moderate to severe river flooding.

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