After rapidly intensifying to a Category 5 storm, Hurricane Milton is slowly moving toward the Florida peninsula, with life-threatening storm surges and strong winds expected in the coming days.
Rain associated with the storm is expected to begin arriving a few days before it officially makes landfall, with tropical storm-force winds and most of the moisture arriving overnight Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center .
The storm, which intensified from a Category 3 hurricane to a Category 5 storm in a matter of hours Monday, is also affecting Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula before crossing the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida.
Here’s the latest information on how the storm is expected to track toward the Sunshine State.
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Monday evening
Milton is still located just north of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, where it is expected to cause significant problems, including “life-threatening storm surge” and devastating waves along the coast, officials say.
Heavy rain and damaging winds are also expected as the storm drifts east-northeast.
Tuesday morning
The storm is still expected to be located along the Mexican coast Tuesday morning, with hurricane warnings still in effect as heavy rain continues.
Additionally, bands of rain ahead of the hurricane are expected to begin extending toward the Florida coast, meaning showers and thunderstorms could begin to impact the state 36 hours or more before the storm hits officially land.
Officials say Tampa International Airport will also halt operations starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday due to the approaching storm.
Tuesday evening
By Tuesday evening, the storm will move away from Mexico and toward the coast of Florida, affecting western parts of Cuba as it crosses the Gulf as a powerful hurricane.
More rain will also begin to fall on Florida ahead of the hurricane, with flood watches and warnings likely as the day progresses.
Wednesday morning
By late morning, tropical storm force winds are expected across most of the state, with heavy rain also affecting a large portion of the state, from the Panhandle to the Florida Keys.
Operations at Orlando International Airport are expected to be suspended Wednesday morning ahead of the hurricane’s arrival.
The storm is expected to weaken as it approaches the state, but it will still be considered a major hurricane by the time it makes landfall, according to current estimates.
Wednesday evening
The storm is expected to make landfall Wednesday evening and could do so near densely populated areas of the state, near Tampa and St. Petersburg, according to estimates.
There is a potential for massive storm surge associated with the hurricane, between 8 and 12 feet as it enters Tampa Bay and of similar height in other nearby coastal areas, with an area between Yankeetown and Bonita Beach likely to experience massive water surges. levels.
Due to heavy rainfall, there is a considerable risk of flash flooding, as well as moderate to major river flooding in affected areas.
Areas of central Florida are virtually certain to experience tropical storm force winds or higher as the storm passes, according to National Weather Service modeling.
Even if the hurricane weakens to a Category 3 storm, sustained winds between 110 and 130 miles per hour would still be possible in areas near the eye of the hurricane.
THURSDAY
By Thursday morning, most of the storm is expected to have passed over the Florida peninsula, but it will likely continue to drench the region with rain and could cause flooding issues along the Atlantic coast.
The heaviest rain is currently expected in central parts of the state and could affect several major cities, including Tampa and Jacksonville.
In total, between 6 and 8 inches of rain or more could fall in most areas, although localized totals of up to 15 inches are possible.
There is a “moderate” risk of flash flooding across most of the peninsula.
