Updated: Monday, 12:01 p.m. EST
Hurricane Milton is now considered a Category 5 storm, the National Hurricane Center said Monday afternoon. The storm is packing maximum sustained winds that are estimated to be 160 mph — with gusts even stronger than that.
Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a dangerous Category 4 hurricane Monday morning as it barrels across the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to stay at about its current strength for the next couple of days, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
Milton had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph over the southern Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane center said.
Hurricane and storm surge watches are in effect for much of the state’s west coast, according to forecasters. Gov. Ron DeSantis also declared a state of emergency for 51 Florida counties over the weekend, days before Milton is forecast to slam into the state as a major hurricane.
The system could bring “potentially historic hurricane impacts” to the Tampa Bay region, including 10 to 15 feet of storm surge, wind gusts up to 140 mph and possibly more than 2 feet of rain in some areas, according to AccuWeather forecasters.
Mandatory evacuations go into effect Monday in certain evacuation zones in Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties, officials said.
“This is an unusual and extremely concerning forecast track for a hurricane approaching the Tampa Bay area,” Jonathan Porter, AccuWeather chief meteorologist, said. “Milton could rapidly intensify into a major hurricane with extreme impacts. This hurricane could create a life-threatening storm surge. Please make sure your family and friends in this area are prepared.”
It will hit less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in the Big Bend area as a Category 4 storm, ravaged Florida’s coastal communities and much of the U.S. Southeast. Helene left millions without power, leveled neighborhoods and killed at least 232 people across six states, CNN said.
Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor, Union and Volusia counties fall under the governor’s emergency orders in Florida.
A hurricane warning was issued for Chokoloskee in Southwest Florida north to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay, WTSP reported.
A storm surge is in effect for Flamingo in south Florida north to the mouth of the Suwannee River. This includes Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay.
A tropical storm watch is in place in the Florida Keys and along the Gulf Coast from Flamingo to south of Chokoloskee, as well as further north, from the mouth of the Suwannee River to Indian Pass.
While Milton was expected to strengthen into possibly a Category 5 storm as it moved across the Gulf, some weakening is expected before landfall, forecasters said.
On Monday, the system is approaching the Yucatan Peninsula, which is expected to bring a life-threatening storm surge with damaging waves to areas of its northern coast, the National Hurricane Center said.
It’s also possible that Milton’s eye could make landfall in the Yucatan before turning northeast on its way to Florida, Denis Phillips, chief meteorologist for ABC Action News, wrote in social media posts.
After this, Milton is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast Wednesday, though it’s not sure exactly where the eye and eyewall will come ashore. This could happen anywhere from Cedar Key south to Naples, reports said.
Parts of the state’s west coast, including the Tampa Bay area, will see the life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds Tuesday night or early Wednesday, NHC said.
Even ahead of Milton, parts of Florida will see heavy rainfall Monday, with rains more directly related to the hurricane expected late Tuesday through Wednesday night. This brings “a risk of considerable flash, urban, and areal flooding, along with the potential for moderate to major river flooding,” the agency said.