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What time and where the storm will hit Florida

Vaseline October 9, 2024

Hurricane Milton was a Category 5 hurricane late Tuesday, but has now returned to a Category 4 hurricane. The storm is heading toward the Tampa area and is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast soon.

Less than two weeks after Helene passed through the southern part of the United States, Milton will make landfall as “a dangerous major hurricane,” the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Milton Live Updates: Hurricane Milton strengthens to a Category 5 as it approaches Florida

When will Hurricane Milton make landfall?

The storm is expected to make landfall late Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning.

Despite the impending landfall, parts of Florida are already feeling the effects of the storm.

The state will experience hurricane and tropical storm force winds throughout Wednesday. Areas in Southwest Florida are already experiencing tornadoes.

Where is Milton located? Hurricane Milton tracker: ‘Extremely dangerous’ storm makes landfall again in Florida

Those who want to evacuate may still have time to do so in the morning.

“Most people have been evacuated, but there is still some time this morning for the last few people who were hesitant to be able to evacuate,” Rick Davis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tampa, told USA TODAY.

Where will it make landfall?

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in the Manatee Couty/Sarasota County area on the west coast of central Florida, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north or south, said Davis, who also advised people not to focus on where it is could come ashore.

“We tell people not to focus on the exact center because as the system makes landfall, the eye will get bigger and the wind field will expand,” Davis said. “Even if you are not directly on the path, the effects at the point of landfall will be felt far and wide.”

Hurricane Milton Tracker

Hurricane Milton Spaghetti Models

Illustrations cover a range of forecasting tools and models, and they are not all the same. The hurricane center uses only the four or five best-performing models to help make its forecasts.

Hurricane Milton livestream

Watch live how Hurricane Milton heads towards Florida.

Life-threatening storm

Milton’s storm surge poses an “extremely life-threatening situation,” according to the National Hurricane Center.

“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida,” warns NHC Specialist John Cangialosi.

According to USA TODAY’s previous reporting, the state will see 5 to 12 inches of rain. Areas in the central to northern parts of the Florida Peninsula could see up to 18 inches of rain.

People should rush to prepare for extended power outages and to “protect lives and property,” the National Hurricane Center warned.

According to the center, ‘life-threatening’ flooding is also possible.

“We just need people to take this very seriously,” Davis said. “This will be a devastating event.”

Contributors: Gabe Hauari, Anthony Robledo, Eric Lagatta John Bacon, Trevor Hughes, Dinah Voyles Pulver, Christopher Cann, Michael Loria, Thao Nguyen, Samantha Neely, Jennifer Sangalang, Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You can contact her at LinkedInfollow her further X, formerly Twitter, Instagram And TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected]