The National Hurricane Center has updated its forecast for Hurricane Milton, now predicting it to make landfall Wednesday night near or just south of Sarasota. This marks a slight but significant shift in the storm's projected path from earlier today. The landfall point has moved south by 10 miles since this morning and 16 miles south since Tuesday morning.
These adjustments in the forecast are crucial as even small changes in the storm's track can have a big impact on the severity of its effects. Storm surge forecasts, in particular, are highly dependent on the exact path of the hurricane. The hurricane center has warned that storm surge heights in the Tampa Bay region and areas further south could vary widely due to these shifts.
While the current forecast indicates a potential landfall near Sarasota, the hurricane center stresses that the exact location of Milton's landfall remains unpredictable. The storm's track could continue to fluctuate, especially if the hurricane wobbles or changes course during the day and into the evening.
The risk of devastating storm surge still looms large for much of the west-central and southwest coast of Florida. Residents in these areas are urged to stay informed and prepared for potential impacts as Hurricane Milton approaches.
