When will Hurricane Milton hit Florida?

U.S. officials are sounding the alarm over Hurricane Milton, which is rapidly approaching Florida with potentially life-threatening consequences. Milton is one of the strongest hurricanes to develop in the North Atlantic in recent years, following closely after Hurricane Helene, which caused significant destruction across the country two weeks ago.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicts that Milton will make landfall in Florida on Wednesday night, bringing extreme danger. It may strike near Tampa, a city with over three million people in its metropolitan area. Meteorologists are warning of heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and storm surges that could push water inland from the coast. With surges of 10-15 feet and localized rainfall of up to 1.5 feet, Milton could be the most powerful storm to hit the region in a century.

Milton became a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday and has since moved eastward through the Gulf of Mexico, after skirting Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The storm rapidly intensified, with winds reaching 200 mph before being downgraded to a Category 4 hurricane. Despite the drop in intensity on Tuesday, experts warn that it may regain strength before striking Florida.Ocean.

Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that Florida is preparing for its largest evacuation in years, with most counties under a state of emergency. Disaster management teams have issued maps and lists of evacuation zones and have ordered evacuations along Florida’s west coast. Shelters are available for those unable to leave, and airports in the storm’s path are closing as people flee the area.

Milton is also part of an increasingly active hurricane season, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) links to rising ocean temperatures due to climate change. Category 5 hurricanes like Milton can cause catastrophic damage, with winds exceeding 155 mph, storm surges over 18 feet, and widespread destruction.

Historically, some of the worst Category 5 hurricanes in the U.S. include:
Hurricane Camille (1969): destroyed much of Mississippi’s coast with a 24-foot storm surge, causing 259 deaths.
Hurricane Andrew (1992) devastated southern Florida, with winds up to 174 mph, causing $30 billion in damages.
Hurricane Michael (2018): hit Florida with 160 mph winds, leading to 74 deaths and $25 billion in damage.

Milton is on track to be one of the most severe storms in recent memory, with officials urging caution and preparedness.