Category 4 Hurricane Milton Approaches Florida’s West Coast with Catastrophic Force

Hurricane Milton is barreling toward Florida’s central west coast, with wind speeds just shy of a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane.

As of Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that Milton, with sustained winds of 155 mph, could make landfall in the early hours of Thursday.

The NHC has labeled the storm a “dangerous major hurricane,” expected to bring unprecedented destruction.

Milton’s Strength Just Below Category 5

While Milton’s wind speeds temporarily dipped to 155 mph from 160 mph earlier Wednesday, the storm remains life-threatening.

A mere 1 mph separates Milton from Category 5, the highest ranking on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

“Fluctuations in intensity are likely,” the Miami-based NHC stated, “but Milton is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida.”

At landfall, the storm is expected to remain a powerful Category 4 storm, with winds between 130 and 156 mph.

Tampa Bay Braces for Worst Storm in a Century

Milton poses an unprecedented threat to the Tampa Bay area, which hasn’t been hit by a major hurricane in over a century.

Early projections indicated that the storm could directly strike Tampa Bay, but as of Wednesday morning, the storm’s track shifted southward toward Sarasota. Nevertheless, forecasters urged residents not to focus solely on the precise landfall location.

“The average error at 24 hours is about 40 miles,” the NHC said.

Mass evacuations are currently underway across Florida’s Gulf Coast as residents prepare for Milton’s landfall.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 51 counties, urging residents to prepare for widespread power outages and stock up on essential supplies.

“The impacts will be broader than just the eye of the storm,” DeSantis said, cautioning Floridians to heed evacuation orders and take the storm seriously.

Storm Surge and Flooding Threats Loom Large

Storm surge predictions for Florida’s west coast remain dire. The NHC forecasts surges between 10 and 15 feet from Anna Maria Island to Boca Grande.

This is comparable to the height of a single-story building and poses a serious threat to low-lying areas.

“If you are in the Storm Surge Warning area, this is an extremely life-threatening situation,” the National Weather Service warned.

Milton’s impact is also expected to bring heavy rainfall, with predictions of up to 18 inches in some areas. This could lead to flash flooding, river flooding, and widespread urban inundation.

Ongoing Preparations and Evacuations

As Milton approaches, Florida residents have begun boarding up homes, filling sandbags, and moving boats to safer locations.

However, lingering debris from Hurricane Helene, which struck less than two weeks ago, still clutters Tampa’s streets, heightening concerns about Milton’s arrival.

“We are working to clear the debris as quickly as possible,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who assured residents that local and federal resources are being deployed to aid in preparation efforts.

The National Hurricane Center issued a stern warning Wednesday morning as Hurricane Milton neared landfall: “Hurricane #Milton Advisory 18: Tornadic Supercells From Milton Beginning to Sweep Across The Southern Florida Peninsula. The Time to Prepare, Including Evacuate If Told Do So, Is Quickly Coming to an End Along the Florida West Coast.”

This advisory underscored the urgent need for those in Milton’s path to take immediate action. As tens of thousands evacuate, officials stressed that residents should not wait any longer to heed evacuation orders.

Airports in the Tampa area have canceled nearly all flights, and theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios have temporarily closed.

Airlines like United have added extra flights out of Florida, although many flights are already full.

Urgent Warnings from Officials

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Deanne Criswell urged residents to follow evacuation orders. She emphasized that many may not need to travel far, as even short relocations can keep people out of harm’s way.

“This is a massive storm that is going to bring catastrophic wind, but also flooding and storm surge,” Criswell warned. “Nobody needs to die from this storm.”

The NHC echoed these concerns, stating, “Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.”

Also Read: Florida Residents Urged to Evacuate as Category 5 Hurricane Milton Targets West Coast