Hurricane Milton is rapidly intensifying and is expected to make landfall in Florida as a Category 5 storm, bringing catastrophic storm surge, high winds and heavy rain. This comes less than a fortnight after Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage and killed more than 200 people. Officials are urging residents to evacuate, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has warned of 'major impacts' from the storm.
Hurricane Milton, which strengthened from a tropical storm to a hurricane on Sunday, is forecast to make landfall in the US on Wednesday. The weather system was upgraded on Monday after sustaining winds of 150mph while sweeping east across the Gulf of Mexico, officials from the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. It is predicted to hit around the Tampa Bay area before travelling over Orlando.
The storm's rapid intensification is a trend that climate scientists say is being exacerbated by climate change. Hurricane Milton's wind speeds increased by 90 mph in roughly 25 hours, according to Climate Central. This extreme rapid intensification is a result of warm sea surface temperatures and high levels of moisture in the atmosphere, both of which are being fueled by climate change.
Forecasters say some affected areas will likely be hit again, worsening the damage caused less than a fortnight ago. Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida's emergency management division, warned that residents should prepare for the "largest evacuation that we have seen, most likely since 2017 Hurricane Irma".
He added: "I highly encourage you to evacuate."
Sheriff Chad Chronister said the situation "stinks" but "if you safeguard your families, you will be alive".
The fire service warned there was a risk to life for anyone staying in the area.
"If you remain there, you could die and my men and women could die trying to rescue you," fire service chief Jason Dougherty said. "Help them by leaving."
DeSantis said he doesn't think there's any scenario where Florida won't experience "major impacts" from the storm.
"You have time to prepare – all day today, all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday to be sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place.
"If you're on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you'll be asked to leave."
In 2017, around seven million people were ordered to flee their homes in Florida ahead of Hurricane Irma, which ended up killing more than 130 people in the state. The mass evacuation caused long traffic jams on motorways and major queues at petrol stations.
The Category 5 hurricane has sustained wind speeds greater than 155mph, and will bring down many trees. It is likely to cause total roof failure for many buildings, with some smaller buildings likely to be overturned or blown away completely. Storm surges greater than 18ft are likely, while damage due to wave action and debris will be significant. Low-lying areas within five to 10 miles of the sea may need evacuation 12 hours or more before the storm centre arrives due to flooding cutting off escape routes.
However it's worth noting that Milton may weaken before making landfall.
Hillsborough County has issued a mandatory evacuation for Evacuation Zones A an B, for all mobile homes and manufactured housing starting at 2:30 p.m. today. Those residents should be in a safe location by 7 a.m. Wednesday. Nine shelters will be opened in mandatory evacuation zones.
Sarasota County today also called for evacuations for those in levels A and B (which includes barrier islands), and those in mobile or manufactured homes. Those living in level C “should be prepared to evacuate if the storm intensifies.”
In the coastal city of Anna Maria, south of Tampa, a mandatory order begins at midday. Pinellas County has begun mandatory evacuations for long-term care facilities.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) will shut down on Wednesday morning, officials said, in anticipation of Hurricane Milton heading inland. Tampa International Airport earlier today announced it was closing on Tuesday morning, with Milton headed its way from the Gulf of Mexico.
Universities across Florida called off classes this week as Hurricane Milton quickly headed toward the state's west coast, officials said. The University of South Florida in Tampa shut down today and will be closed through at least Wednesday, the Tampa school announced. The University of Tampa will heed a Hillsborough County mandatory evacuation order, with academic and business buildings closed by 3 p.m. today and residence halls to be emptied by 6 a.m. tomorrow, school officials said. The University of Central Florida in Orlando will suspend all campus activity Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, officials said. The University of Florida in Gainesville will be shuttered starting at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, with hopes of operations starting again on Friday morning, UF said.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take off for New Orleans tomorrow, well in advance of their Week 6 contest against the host Saints, the NFL club announced. NFL teams generally travel to road games a day or two ahead of kickoff. But with Hurricane Milton quickly moving toward Tampa, the Bucs elected to move their weekly game prep to New Orleans, where they'll play the Saints at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Hurricane Milton took about 19 hours to grow from a tropical storm to a Category 4 – the fastest in the Atlantic since Hurricane Eta in 2020. And among hurricanes in this and the previous two years, Milton is the quickest to grow so powerful, according to an NBC News analysis of government data.
