Hurricane Milton has intensified to a Category 4 hurricane with winds reaching 155 mph, as reported by the National Hurricane Center's latest update at 5 a.m. ET. The storm is currently located approximately 560 miles southwest of Tampa and is moving east-northeast at a speed of 12 mph.
Forecasts indicate that Hurricane Milton is likely to regain Category 5 strength by Tuesday morning and maintain this intensity throughout the day. The storm is projected to make landfall as a major Category 3 hurricane late on Wednesday.
The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings about the potential destructiveness of Hurricane Milton for west-central Florida. While the storm is currently compact, it is expected to expand in size as it approaches the region. The forecast suggests that both the hurricane and tropical-storm-force winds will double in size before landfall, posing risks beyond the predicted cone of impact.
Currently undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle, Hurricane Milton is anticipated to undergo re-intensification soon. This natural process, common in major hurricanes like Milton, involves the development of a larger outer eyewall that replaces the inner eyewall, leading to temporary weakening but eventual strengthening of the storm. As the outer eyewall tightens, the hurricane is likely to regain strength.
Both NOAA and Air Force hurricane hunters are scheduled to conduct further investigations on Hurricane Milton to gather crucial data on its intensity and trajectory.
