When and where will Hurricane Milton make landfall?

When and where will Hurricane Milton make landfall?
When and where will Hurricane Milton make landfall?

(CNN Spanish) – Milton is again a rare Category 5 hurricane according to the latest update from the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Milton first became a Category 5 hurricane on Monday at 11 a.m. (Miami time) and further strengthened to become one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, but weakened slightly overnight until become a strong Category 4 hurricane.

Including Milton, only 42 hurricanes have reached this strength in the Atlantic on record, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Before this season, only two Category 5 hurricanes moved through the basin in the 2020s: Ian in 2022 and Lee in 2023.

With this in mind, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents on the state’s west coast to prepare to evacuate. During a press conference Monday morning, DeSantis noted: “All of these barrier islands and storm surge vulnerable areas along the west coast of Florida should prepare for a possible evacuation that will be announced by their officials. county. “That’s going to happen when you have the potential for a storm surge of this magnitude.”

The Florida Division of Emergency Management reported that evacuations have been ordered so far in five counties on the state’s west coast due to the strengthening of Hurricane Milton: Hillsborough County, Charlotte County, Manatee County, Pasco County, of Pinellas and Hernando County.

Videos show saturated highways in Florida by those fleeing Hurricane Milton

When and where will Hurricane Milton make landfall?

Milton is located 644 km southwest of Tampa, Florida, with sustained winds of 265 km/h and moving east-northeast at 14 km/h. The storm’s strength is expected to fluctuate over the next 24 hours and weaken slightly into a much larger Category 3 hurricane before making landfall on Florida’s west coast.

Conditions will begin to deteriorate along the west coast of Florida during the day Wednesday, particularly in the afternoon, with significant worsening during the overnight hours.

Here’s a timeline for key areas along Milton’s path:

Storm Duration: Wednesday 2 p.m. – Thursday 2 p.m.
Maximum wind: 128-100 161 km/h with gusts up to 185 km/h, Thursday 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Rain: 200-300 millimeters
Maximum rain: Wednesday 2 pm – Thursday 8 am
Storm surge: 3-4 meters above ground in flood-prone areas, peaking Wednesday 10pm – Thursday 6am

Storm Duration: Wednesday 2 p.m. – Thursday 2 p.m.
Maximum wind: 16-177 km/h with gusts up to 200 km/h, Thursday 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Rain: 100-200 millimeters
Maximum rain: Wednesday 2 pm – Thursday 8 am
Storm surge: 3-4 meters above ground in flood-prone areas, peaking Wednesday 10 pm – Thursday 6 am

Orlando

Storm duration: Wednesday 8 pm – Thursday 5 pm
Maximum wind: 112-144 km/h with gusts up to 160 km/h Thursday 6 a.m. – Thursday 12 p.m.
Rain: 100-200 millimeters
Maximum rain: Wednesday 8 am – Thursday 11 am

Storm duration: Wednesday 6 pm – Thursday 1 pm
Maximum wind: 40-56 km/h with gusts up to 88 km/h, Wednesday 9 pm – Thursday 6 am
Rain: 50-100 millimeters
Maximum rain: Wednesday 8 am – Thursday 2 am
Storm surge: 1.8-3 meters above ground in flood-prone areas, peaking Thursday 12am – Thursday 6am

Meanwhile, CNN learned that Tampa International Airport announced that it will suspend all commercial and cargo operations starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Milton. According to a statement, the airport will remain closed to the public until an assessment of possible damage after the storm passes is carried out.

“Travellers are urged to follow emergency management advisories and pay close attention to public safety alerts,” the airport said.

Likewise, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have announced that they will evacuate Tampa on Tuesday morning, ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival on the Florida Gulf Coast. The decision was communicated by the team this Monday.

– With reporting from CNN’s Mary Gilbert, Eric Zerkel, Holly Yan, Wayne Sterling, Rachel Ramirez, Taylor Ward, Allison Chinchar

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