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Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News
Mandy Thalhuber

Hurricane Milton on track to strike Florida's Gulf Coast

Milton upgraded to Category 5 hurricane

Forecast simulated infrared satellite of Hurricane Milton
Forecast simulated infrared satellite of Hurricane Milton
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admininstration, via Tropical Tidbits

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Florida’s Gulf Coast is making intense preparations for Hurricane Milton, which is expected to bring a storm surge of 8-12 feet to the Tampa Bay area.

State of emergency as Milton nears

Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified to a Category 5 hurricane. Currently, it has a minimum pressure of 925 millibars and a maximum sustained wind gusts of 160 mph.

The hurricane is expected to weaken slightly as it approaches Florida, but it will still be classified as a major hurricane when it makes landfall.

Milton is forecast to move near or just north of the Yucatan Peninsula Monday and Tuesday, before crossing the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approaching the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by Wednesday.

Hurricane Milton track
Hurricane Milton track
NOAA, via National Hurricane Center

The National Weather Service has issued storm surge watches and hurricane watches for the coast.

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Storm Surge Watch and Hurricane Watch are in effect for Coastal Charlotte, Coastal Citrus, Coastal Hernando, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Lee, Coastal Levy, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Pasco, Coastal Sarasota, Inland Lee, and Pinellas - A Hurricane Watch is in effect for DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Inland Charlotte, Inland Citrus, Inland Hernando, Inland Hillsborough, Inland Levy, Inland Manatee, Inland Pasco, Inland Sarasota, Polk, and Sumter

* STORM INFORMATION: - About 690 miles southwest of Mouth of Tampa Bay FL - 21.7N 91.7W - Storm Intensity 155 mph - Movement East-southeast or 110 degrees at 9 mph

Hurricane Milton will hit the Tampa Bay area hard with an expected storm surge of 8 to 12 feet. Here are some other surge forecasts across Gulf Coast Florida:

  • Anclote River to Englewood, 8-12 feet

  • Yankeetown to Anclote River, 5-10 feet

  • Englewood to Bonita Beach, 5-10 feet

  • Charlotte Harbor, 5-10 feet

  • Bonita Beach to Chokoloskee, 4-7 feet

  • Suwannee River to Yankeetown, 3-5 feet

  • Chokoloskee to Flamingo, 2-4 feet

  • Flamingo to Card Sound Bridge, 1-3 feet

  • Indian Pass to Suwannee River, 1-3 feet

  • Florida Keys, 1-3 feet

  • Dry Tortugas, 1-3 feet

Storm surge Hurricane Milton
Storm surge Hurricane Milton
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via National Hurricane Center

More than 50 counties are under a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Milton with mandatory evacuations in effect for several areas.