According to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Milton has weakened to a Category 4 storm with winds of 155 mph, down from 165 mph. The storm is currently located approximately 585 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, and is moving east at 9 mph.
Despite the downgrade, forecasters predict that Hurricane Milton will regain Category 5 strength by Tuesday morning and maintain this intensity throughout the day. The storm is expected to fluctuate in intensity before making landfall on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm.
With over 12 million people under hurricane watches and warnings, and more than 8 million people under tropical storm watches, preparations are underway across Florida. The National Hurricane Center warns that hurricane conditions could impact the west coast of Florida as early as Wednesday afternoon, with tropical storm conditions expected to begin earlier in the day. On the east coast, hurricane conditions may start Wednesday night, with tropical storm conditions possible by Wednesday afternoon.
Heavy rainfall is also a concern, with 5 to 10 inches of rain expected across Florida through Thursday. Some areas could see isolated totals of up to 15 inches. The Florida Keys are forecasted to receive 4 to 7 inches of rainfall during the same period. Flood watches are in effect for nearly 20 million people in the state.
One of the most significant threats posed by Hurricane Milton is the storm surge, which could reach 10 to 15 feet above ground level in certain areas. The region from the Anclote River to the north of Clearwater, extending south to Englewood, including Tampa Bay, is particularly at risk.
