Hurricane Milton, which previously became a Category 5 hurricane and the fifth-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record by central pressure, has now weakened to a Category 4 hurricane as it accelerates northeastwards to the western Florida Peninsula. Milton has potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes for Florida, and preparations should have been completed for those in the path of the storm. Interests in the area must follow local evacuation orders!

As of 12:00 p.m. EDT Wednesday, the eye of Hurricane Milton was centered near 26.0°N 84.2°W, and was moving northeastward at approximately 17 mph. Maximum sustained winds were 125 knots (145 mph), with an estimated minimum pressure of 931 mb. Milton’s satellite appearance has degraded significantly in the last several hours as southwesterly shear has been rapidly increasing. The degradation in satellite appearance should not be interpreted as Milton’s threat decreasing, as Milton is growing in size and is expected to produce storm surge of up to 15 inches south of the Tampa area. Additional weakening is expected due to continued strong shear, and Milton is expected to be a powerful Category 3 major hurricane at landfall south of Tampa Bay very early tomorrow morning. After moving across the Florida peninsula, Milton is expected to weaken rapidly and lose tropical characteristics by Friday morning northeast of the Bahamas.

Milton is expected to produce isolated rainfall amounts of 12 inches along the center of the track, with most of the Florida Peninsula expected to receive significant rainfall. The Florida Panhandle and the southern tip of Florida are not expected to have significant rainfall, though these areas are still expected to have higher than normal storm surge. Impacts with Milton will occur well inland, with hurricane warnings in effect for most of the inland area, and the east coast of Florida is also expected to receive well above normal storm surge from Milton.

Milton is expected to produce the following storm surge, according to the National Hurricane Center:

Anna Maria Island, FL to Boca Grande, FL...10-15 ft
Anclote River, FL to Anna Maria Island, FL...8-12 ft
Tampa Bay...8-12 ft
Boca Grande, FL to Bonita Beach, FL...8-12 ft
Charlotte Harbor...8-12 ft
Bonita Beach, FL to Chokoloskee, FL...5-8 ft
Aripeka, FL to Anclote River, FL...3-5 ft
Chokoloskee, FL to Flamingo, FL...3-5 ft
Sebastian Inlet, FL to Altamaha Sound, GA...3-5 ft
Altamaha Sound, GA to Edisto Beach, SC...2-4 ft
Yankeetown, FL to Aripeka, FL...2-4 ft
Dry Tortugas...2-4 ft
St. Johns River...2-4 ft