Life-threatening storm surges will hit Florida’s Gulf Coast this week with the arrival of Hurricane Milton, which strengthened into a major Category 3 hurricane over the southern Gulf of Mexico early Monday.
In an update at 7 a.m. ET Monday, the National Hurricane Center said maximum sustained winds increased to 125 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane.
The storm is forecast to make landfall Wednesday evening in Florida, which along with the broader southeastern United States continues to recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene. There are likely widespread evacuation orders throughout Florida.
The NHC issued a storm surge warning early Monday for Florida’s Gulf Coast, from Flamingo at the southern tip to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay. There is a hurricane watch along the same coastline, from Chokoloskee near Everglades City to the Suwannee River, while a tropical storm watch is in effect further west to Indian Pass.
“A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening flooding as rising waters move inland from the coastline,” the NHC said.
At 7 a.m. ET, Milton was about 165 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 750 miles west-southwest of Tampa.
The Mexican government has issued a hurricane warning for the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, from Celestun to Rio Lagartos.
“Under the forecast, Milton is forecast to pass near or just north of the Yucatan Peninsula today and Tuesday, then cross the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula on Wednesday,” the NHC said in its report of 7am. prediction.
Gov. Ron DeSantis told a news conference Sunday that a 24-hour operation was underway to remove debris and fallen trees from Helene before Milton’s arrival to minimize the threat of flying objects. He said Milton is expected to make landfall in Hillsborough or Pinellas counties Wednesday evening and has preemptively issued an emergency declaration for 51 counties.
Some areas will officially order evacuations today, including the coastal city of Anna Maria, south of Tampa, where a mandatory order begins Monday afternoon. Pinellas County has begun mandatory evacuations for long-term care facilities.
However, state officials emphasize that people can leave without a warrant. “Have a plan, execute the plan,” DeSantis told a news conference. ‘You can certainly leave now. You don’t have to wait for an evacuation order.”
Polk County, east of Tampa, has released a list of shelters, including three that are pet-friendly.
Many schools and colleges will be closed: All public schools in Collier County are closed Monday through Thursday.
The National Weather Service office in Tampa Bay warned that Gulf Coast areas such as Sarasota, Pinellas and Lee counties should plan for “catastrophic wind damage.”
“Take action now to complete preparations before winds become dangerous,” the office warned.
Milton is notable for its very unusual path, approaching Florida from the west: since 1850, only two storms have formed in the Gulf Bay of Campeche and made landfall in Florida.
Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on September 26, killed more than 230 people in six states.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
