Hurricane Milton has rapidly developed since it formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday as a tropical storm. By Sunday, it intensified into a Category 1 hurricane, and projections indicate it may make landfall along Florida’s west coast, particularly near Tampa, as a Category 3 storm by Wednesday, according to reports.
The CBS News has been tracking the storm’s progress. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Milton is currently moving across the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico, with expectations of increased speed as it heads toward the Florida coast.
Florida’s Preparedness Measures
In response to the impending hurricane, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has initiated preparations for potential evacuations, affecting over 6 million residents. This comes on the heels of recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene, which recently left significant devastation in the region.
Governor DeSantis has expanded a state of emergency declaration to include 51 counties. Meanwhile, President Biden has been briefed on the hurricane’s projected impacts, and FEMA is actively involved in preparations.
Current Conditions and Expected Path
As of Sunday at 5 p.m. ET, Hurricane Milton was reported to be located approximately 275 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and around 805 miles west-southwest of Tampa. It had maximum sustained winds measuring 85 mph and was moving at a speed of 7 mph in an easterly direction.
Forecast and Warnings
The National Hurricane Center warns of life-threatening conditions affecting various regions along Florida’s west coast. It also predicts storm surges could elevate water levels by 2 to 4 feet above normal, particularly impacting the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Additional rainfall projections indicate parts of the Florida Peninsula and the Keys may see anywhere from 5 to 10 inches, with localized totals exceeding 15 inches, increasing the risk for flash flooding and possibly significant river flooding as well.
Hurricane Kirk Tracking
In a separate development, Hurricane Kirk has also been downgraded to a Category 2 storm as of Sunday. Kirk is moving rapidly over the open ocean, with no current warnings in place according to the NHC.
Devastation from Recent Hurricanes
This year’s hurricane season has been particularly active, with Hurricane Milton arriving just over a week after Hurricane Helene devastated the area, leading to over 20 confirmed deaths in Florida. Following Helene’s landfall with winds of 140 mph, widespread destruction was reported, leaving significant numbers of the populace without power.
Activity in the 2024 Hurricane Season
The hurricane season, which officially runs from June through November, has seen heightened activity earlier than usual in 2024, with hurricane experts noting Milton as the 13th named storm. This is well ahead of the typical timeline for the 13th storm to form, which usually does not happen until late October.
