Residents along the west coast of Florida are advised to prepare for deteriorating conditions as Hurricane Milton approaches. The storm is expected to impact key areas such as Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers, and Orlando with varying intensities and durations.
In Tampa, the storm is forecasted to last from Wednesday 2 p.m. to Thursday 2 p.m. with peak winds reaching 80 to 100 mph and gusts up to 115 mph expected between Thursday 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. Residents can anticipate 8 to 12 inches of rainfall, with the heaviest downpour occurring from Wednesday 2 p.m. to Thursday 8 a.m. Storm surge is projected to be 10 to 15 feet above ground in flood-prone areas, peaking from Wednesday 10 p.m. to Thursday 6 a.m.
Similarly, Sarasota will experience the storm from Wednesday 2 p.m. to Thursday 2 p.m. Peak winds of 90 to 110 mph with gusts up to 125 mph are expected between Thursday 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. Rainfall amounts are predicted to be 4 to 8 inches, with the heaviest rainfall occurring from Wednesday 2 p.m. to Thursday 8 a.m. Storm surge in Sarasota is also forecasted to be 10 to 15 feet above ground in flood-prone areas, peaking from Wednesday 10 p.m. to Thursday 6 a.m.
Fort Myers will face the storm from Wednesday 6 p.m. to Thursday 1 p.m. Peak winds of 25-35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph are expected between Wednesday 9 p.m. to Thursday 6 a.m. Rainfall amounts are projected to be 2 to 4 inches, with the heaviest rainfall occurring from Wednesday 8 a.m. to Thursday 2 a.m. Storm surge in Fort Myers is estimated to be 6 to 10 feet above ground in flood-prone areas, peaking from Thursday 12 a.m. to Thursday 6 a.m.
Lastly, Orlando will experience the storm from Wednesday 8 p.m. to Thursday 5 p.m. Peak winds of 70-90 mph with gusts up to 100 mph are expected between Thursday 6 a.m. to Thursday 12 p.m. Rainfall amounts are predicted to be 4 to 8 inches, with the heaviest rainfall occurring from Wednesday 8 a.m. to Thursday 11 a.m.