Hurricane Milton: Category 5 storm reaches 175 mph winds on way to Florida
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ORLANDO, Fl - UPDATE: Hurricane Milton strengthened late Monday afternoon into a Category 5 hurricane, packing 180 mph maximum sustained winds. We will no longer be updating this story. For the latest on Milton, visit our new story here.
Original story below
Hurricane Milton continues to rapidly intensify across the Gulf of Mexico – strengthening to a powerful, destructive Category 5 hurricane – as it makes its way towards Florida's Gulf Coast.
As of 2 p.m. Hurricane Milton "explosively" intensified with 175 mph winds, making it an extremely strong Category 5 storm, the National Hurricane Center said. It's about 105 miles from Progreso, Mexico and about 700 miles from Tampa, Florida.
It is moving east at 9 mph.
Hurricane Milton latest updates:
- Florida Evacuation Zones: Do you live in an evacuation zone? Here's how to find out
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) to suspend commercial flights Wednesday
- Where to find sandbags, sandbag fill stations in Orlando, Central Florida
- Hurricane Milton tracker: Latest cone, path, spaghetti models
- Florida school closures: Florida schools close as huge storms approaches Gulf coast
- Hurricane Milton: County-by-county guide Central Florida
- Brightline to stop some train routes Wednesday, Thursday
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles.
It's expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, flooding, and damaging winds to the Gulf coast, as well as heavy rain, damaging winds, and the potential for tornadoes as it crosses the state this week, the NHC said.
Where are Hurricane Milton watches, warnings, and advisories?
- A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
- A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
- A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life- threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov.
- A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
- A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
When will Orlando and Central Florida feel the effects of Hurricane Milton?
Ahead of Milton, Florida will see increasing periods of rainfall and increasing winds as tropical-storm-force winds and the hurricane's outer bands begin to spread across the state.
Those impacts will get worse as Milton gets closer to the coast.
Storm surge, flooding, and damaging winds are the main threats for those on the Gulf coast. Those inland, such as Orlando and nearby counties, will see periods of heavy rainfall, localized flooding, damaging winds, flooding, and the potential for tornadoes.
Exactly where Milton ultimately makes landfall may change how much rain areas get.
How much rain is expected from Hurricane Milton?
It's too soon to know specifics because it depends on a variety of factors, including when and where Hurricane Milton makes landfall.
Rainfall amounts between 5" to 10" are possible, the National Hurricane Center said, with localized totals up to 15" of rain in some spots through Wednesday.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: There will be mandatory and voluntary evacuations ahead of Milton
During a Saturday evening press conference, Gov. DeSantis said people have time to prepare ahead of Tropical Storm Milton. He said while there is still some uncertainty in the track, people can expect storm surge, flooding, and power outages.
He encouraged people to prepare Monday and Tuesday by preparing their disaster kit, being aware of their flood zone, and their evacuation plan.
Gov. DeSantis said there will be voluntary and mandatory evacuations, likely for those along Florida's Gulf Coast and who live on barrier islands.
Tropical storm and hurricane prep
According to Ready. Gov, here are some of the essentials to include in your emergency kit:
- Food and water to last several days (one gallon per person per day; non-perishable foods to last for several days)
- NOAA Weather Radio (battery powered or crank)
- Flashlight, additional batteries
- First aid kit, critical medications to last several days
- Cellphone, chargers, and fully-charged battery packs
- Cash
- Important documents (insurance, medical cards; copies of birth certificates, social security cards; pet vaccination, ownership records)
- Important phone numbers (family, emergency contacts, emergency county contacts)
- Weather-resistant clothing (jackets, hats, umbrella, boots, etc.)
What is my Florida evacuation zone? Here's how to find it.
If you live in a low-lying area that's prone to flooding, in a mobile home, or an unsafe structure, those areas may be ordered to evacuate during a hurricane, either part of a voluntary evacuation or a mandatory evacuation.
Here is how to find out if you live in an evacuation zone, and what your zone is:
- Visit https://www.floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone/ and click the "Know Your Zone" link.
- Type in your address and see if it is located within a colored evacuation zone (these are flood zones)
- Zone A is typically the most vulnerable, though there are 21 different zone designations among various counties in Florida