Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in the next 36 hours along Florida’s Gulf coast as a large and dangerous storm, and it will retain hurricane strength for its entire track across the state to the east coast.
The exact track and intensity of Milton remains in flux. As of Tuesday morning, the storm had weakened from a Category 5 to Category 4 hurricane. The landfall is forecast to be right over Tampa Bay, but the cone of uncertainty stretches from the Gulf Hammock Wildlife park south to Captiva Island. Forecasters warned residents along nearly the entire Gulf coast to have their hurricane survival plans in motion and to prepare for the worst. A direct or near-direct hit on Tampa Bay could bring nearly unsurvivable storm surge of over 12 feet.
After landfall, the forecast shows Milton tracking parallel to Interstate 4, passing just south of Orlando, and exiting the east coast near Cape Canaveral. A hurricane warning extends across the entire central part of the state from the west to east coasts.
Regardless of where the storm hits directly, much of the central portion of Florida is at risk of flash flooding, destructive wind and possible tornadoes.
Here’s the latest forecast track:
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