TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Milton made landfall just after 8:30 p.m. on Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm.
Milton came on the scene on Saturday as a tropical storm. Early Monday morning, Milton kicked off a rapid intensification starting as a Category 2 storm. It waffled between Category 4 and 5 strength on Tuesday before weakening to a Category 3 on Wednesday.
As of the 9 p.m. advisory, the storm was moving east-northeast at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph.
A hurricane warning is in effect for:
- Florida west coast from Bonita Beach northward to Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay
- Florida east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line northward to Ponte Vedra Beach
A hurricane watch has been issued for the following:
- Dry Tortugas
- Lake Okeechobee
- Florida west coast from Chokoloskee to south of Bonita Beach
- Florida east coast north of Ponte Vedra Beach to the mouth of the St. Marys River
- Florida east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to the Palm Beach/Martin County Line
A tropical storm warning is in place for:
- Florida Keys, including Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay
- Lake Okeechobee
- Florida west coast from Flamingo to south of Bonita Beach
- Florida west coast from north of Suwanee River to Indian Pass
- Florida east coast south of the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to Flamingo
- Savannah River to Edisto Beach South Carolina
- North of Ponte Vedra Beach Florida to the Savannah River
- Extreme northwestern Bahamas, including Grand Bahama Island, the Abacos, and Bimini
A storm surge warning is in effect for:
- Florida west coast from Flamingo northward to Yankeetown, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay
- Sebastian Inlet Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia, including the St. Johns River
The Tampa Bay area has the potential to see 6 to 9 feet of storm surge as Milton moves across the area. The Sarasota-Bradenton area is expected to see 9 to 13 feet of storm surge.
Rainfall from Milton is expected to range between 5-12 inches with localized totals up to 18 inches across portions of the Florida Peninsula and the Keys through Wednesday night. That rainfall will bring risks of flash, urban and areal flooding along with minor to moderate river flooding, according to NHC.
With a front sinking in from the north, the areas prone to seeing most of the rain will exist along and south of I-4.
Our 10 Tampa Bay Weather team will continue to monitor any development and keep you informed, prepared and connected through the rest of hurricane season.