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Hurricane Milton continues to churn in the Gulf of Mexico threatening much of Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center.
In the NHC’s 8 p.m. Tuesday update, Milton’s wind speeds remained at 165 mph – keeping at Category 5 status.
Milton intensified rapidly on Monday, the NHC said, becoming a massive system in mere hours. With winds topping 180 mph by Monday evening, Milton was moving through the Gulf of Mexico as a very strong Category 5 storm.
The NHC says Milton continues to pose an “extremely serious threat” to Florida and that Tuesday is the last full day residents have to prepare their homes and families.
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.
Latest Milton forecast below.
> Get live updates as Hurricane Milton closes in on Florida
>> Track Hurricane Milton: Latest cone, spaghetti models, projected path
Where is Milton now?
The NHC says Milton is currently 440 miles southwest of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph and a minimum central pressure of 902 mb. The system is currently moving east-northeast at 10 mph.
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Milton watches, warnings
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
- West coast of Florida from Flamingo northward to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay
- East coast of Florida from Port Canaveral northward to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River, including the St. Johns River.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
- Celestun to Rio Lagartos
- Florida’s west coast from Bonita Beach northward to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay
- Florida’s east coast from the Indian River/St. Lucie County line northward to Ponte Vedra Beach
- Marion County
- Orange County
- Lake County
- Osceola County
- Polk County
- Sumter County
- Flagler County
- Volusia County
- Brevard County
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for
- Sebastian Inlet to the Volusia/Brevard County line
- Mouth of the St. Mary’s River to Edisto Beach
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for
- Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche
- Dry Tortugas
- Lake Okeechobee
- Florida’s west coast from Chokoloskee to south of Bonita Beach
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Rio Lagartos to Cancun
- All of the Florida Keys, including Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay
- Lake Okeechobee
- Florida west coast from Flamingo to south of Bonita Beach
- Florida west coast from north of the mouth of the Suwanee River to Indian Pass
- Florida east coast south of the Indian River/St. Lucie County line to Flamingo
- Florida east coast north of the Ponte Vedra Beach to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for :
- Coast of Georgia and South Carolina from north of the mouth of the St. Marys River to South Santee River, South Carolina
- Extreme northwestern Bahamas, including Grand Bahama Island, the Abacos, and Bimini.
>> More: Difference between tropical storm, hurricane watch and warning
How will Milton impact Florida?
According to the NHC, the greatest impacts from Hurricane Milton are storm surge, rainfall and high winds.
Officials say storm surge from Milton will raise water levels and create “large and destructive waves.” Rainfall is expected to add to the destruction, with some portions of Florida seeing up to 15 inches of rain. These conditions could lead to flash, urban and areal flooding, the NHC says, adding that there is a risk for moderate to major river flooding.
Storm surge predictions:
- Anclote River, FL to Englewood, FL…10-15 ft
- Tampa Bay…10-15 ft
- Englewood, FL to Bonita Beach, FL…6-10 ft
- Charlotte Harbor…6-10 ft
- Yankeetown, FL to Anclote River, FL…5-10 ft
- Bonita Beach, FL to Chokoloskee, FL…4-7 ft
- Suwannee River, FL to Yankeetown, FL…3-5 ft
- Chokoloskee, FL to Flamingo, FL…3-5 ft
- Flagler/Volusia County Line, FL to Altamaha Sound, GA…3-5 ft
- Sebastian Inlet, FL to Flagler/Volusia County Line, FL…2-4 ft
- Altamaha Sound, GA to Edisto Beach, SC…2-4 ft
- Dry Tortugas…2-4 ft
- St. Johns River…2-4 ft
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In Central Florida, every county is already under a flood watch and some kind of tropical advisory. Click the link below to keep up with all active alerts.
>> How will Hurricane Milton impact Central Florida? County-by-county breakdown
Hurricane Helene recovery
Hurricane Milton comes right on the heels of Hurricane Helene’s devastating landfall in the Florida Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm. Many Florida residents are still recovering from intense flooding, damaging storm surge and extreme wreckage from winds topping 140 mph.
First Warning Weather
Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.
Download the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.
The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.
>> How to watch WESH 2 if you lose power during Hurricane Milton