Elbahrain.net Hurricane Milton has winds of 155 mph, which is still a Category 4 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 5 a.m. ET update. The storm is about 560 miles southwest of Tampa, moving east-northeast at 12 mph.
The storm is expected to regain Category 5 strength Tuesday morning and maintain this strength through the day Tuesday. Milton is expected to make landfall as a major Category 3 hurricane late Wednesday.
“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida,” the hurricane center said. “Milton is still a relatively compact hurricane, but the wind field is expected to continue to grow in size as it approaches Florida. In fact, the official forecast shows the hurricane and tropical-storm-force winds roughly doubling in size by the time it makes landfall.”
This means the dangerous winds, life-threatening storm surge, and heavy rain are expected to impact areas far beyond the forecast cone.
Milton is currently completing an eyewall replacement cycle, meaning re-intensification should begin shortly, according to the hurricane center. An eyewall replacement cycle is a common in major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). In an eyewall replacement cycle, a large outer eyewall develops and becomes dominant as the inner eyewall shrinks and collapses. This leads to slight weakening, but also tends to cause the size of the hurricane to increase. As the outer eyewall begins to tighten, the hurricane can strengthen once again.
Both the NOAA and Air Force hurricane hunters are scheduled to investigate Milton again this morning.
As disaster-weary communities in Florida prepare for another catastrophic storm, beloved local meteorologist John Morales became emotional while delivering his forecast on air Monday.
“It’s just an incredible, incredible, incredible hurricane. It has dropped — it has dropped 50 millibars in 10 hours,” Morales said, his voice breaking and becoming shaky as he spoke of the stunning drop in atmospheric pressure that accompanied Milton on Monday.
“I apologize. This is just horrific,” Morales said after he took a brief pause during an NBC6 in Miami broadcast.
Morales took to X later in the day to say, “extreme weather driven by global warming has changed me. Frankly, YOU should be shaken too, and demand #ClimateActionNow.”
Morales is fixture in the South Florida community and has helped guide residents through its major hurricanes including Andrew in 1992, a wave of Florida hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 that included Katrina and Wilma, and most recently Hurricane Matthew, Irma and Maria — which struck his native Puerto Rico.
Hurricane Milton has weakened momentarily and is now a Category 4 storm, according to an update from the National Hurricane Center.
The storm has winds of 155 mph, down from 165 mph. It is located about 585 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida and is moving east at 9 mph, the hurricane center said.
While the storm has dipped into Category 4 status, it is expected to regain Category 5 strength Tuesday morning and maintain this strength through the day. It is expected to fluctuate in intensity before ultimately making landfall on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm.
More than 12 million people are under hurricane watches and warnings, and over 8 million people are under tropical storm watches.
“Hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area on the west coast of Florida as early as Wednesday afternoon, with tropical storm conditions beginning early Wednesday. Hurricane conditions could begin along the east coast of Florida in the watch areas on Wednesday night, with tropical storm conditions possible beginning Wednesday afternoon,” warns the hurricane center.
Rainfall of 5 to 10 inches with isolated totals up to 15 inches is possible across Florida through Thursday. The Florida Keys could see 4 to 7 inches of rainfall through Thursday as well. Nearly 20 million people are under flood watches across Florida.
Storm surge of 10 to 15 feet above ground is possible from the Anclote River to the north of Clearwater then south to Englewood, Florida, an area that includes Tampa Bay.
