Hurricane Milton update: Storm returns to Category 5 as Florida prepares for life-threatening impacts

Not even two weeks after Hurricane Helene pummeled the Florida coastline, residents are bracing for another strike as Milton strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico and continues on a path toward the state. 

Hurricane Milton, which became a Category 5 storm Tuesday evening, is threatening the Tampa metro area — which has a population of more than 3.3 million people. Milton has the potential to be a direct hit and menacing the same stretch of coastline that was battered by Helene not even two weeks ago.

Hurricane Milton: Mandatory evacuations begin in Tampa Bay Area

Other cities such as Fort Myers, Orlando and Jacksonville are also in the forecast cone for Hurricane Milton. Traffic was thick on Interstate 75 heading north on Tuesday as evacuees fled in advance of Milton. Crews were also hurrying to clear debris left by Helene.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden said Tuesday Milton could be one of the worst storms in 100 years to hit Florida. 

The president told reporters afterward of Milton, "My priority is to increase the size and presence of our effort."

Biden postponed a planned trip later this week to Germany and Angola because of the storm, explaining, "I just don’t’ think I can be out of the country at this time."

Here’s the latest information:

Latest update on Hurricane Milton

As of 8 p.m. ET, the storm was 440 miles (710 kilometers) southwest of Tampa. Its maximum sustained windspeeds were 165 mph (270 kph), making it a Category 5 hurricane still.

"Fluctuations in intensity are likely while Milton moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but Milton is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida Wednesday night," the hurricane center said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters Monday afternoon the hurricane was far stronger than what was predicted two days ago. 

On Tuesday, the first evacuations were ordered on Florida's east coast in St. John's County, including St. Augustine Beach. The county will experience a storm surge from the backside of Milton as it barrels across the state. 

Aside from the life-threatening storm surge, Milton is forecast to bring wind speeds well over 100 mph around the eyewall where the hurricane makes landfall. That includes the Tampa area, which has potential wind gusts over 95 mph or more at landfall.

When will Hurricane Milton make landfall?

Milton will make landfall on the west coast of Florida late Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center’s Live Hurricane Tracker.  

It’s expected to be a Category 3 storm with winds of 111-129 mph when it hits the shore in the Tampa Bay region, which has not endured a head-on hit by a major hurricane in more than a century.

It could retain hurricane strength as it churns across central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters say. That track would largely spare other states hit by Helene, which killed at least 230 people on its path from Florida to the Carolinas.

Hurricane Milton wind speed prediction

Milton alerts, watches and warnings

Milton storm surge forecast along Florida coastline

The entire Gulf Coast of Florida is especially vulnerable to storm surge.

Hurricane Helene came ashore some 150 miles away from Tampa in the Florida Panhandle and still managed to cause drowning deaths in the Tampa area due to surges of around 5 to 8 feet above normal tide levels.

Forecasters warned of a possible 8- to 15-foot storm surge in the Tampa Bay area. That’s the highest ever predicted for the location and nearly double the levels reached two weeks ago during Helene, said hurricane center spokeswoman Maria Torres.

The storm could also bring widespread flooding. Five to 10 inches of rain was forecast for mainland Florida and the Keys, with as much as 15 inches expected in some places.