Milton now a Category 3 Hurricane as it nears landfall - Live cam

 

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The National Hurricane Service says that Hurricane Milton is now a Category 3 storm. Speeds have decreased to 125 mph, but make no mistake, this storm is still extremely dangerous.

The storm is moving northeast and is currently 100 miles SW of Tampa.

On the forecast track, the center of Milton will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday, make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

Fluctuations in intensity are likely while Milton moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but Milton is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles. The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide.

Tampa Bay...10-15 ft

Egmont Key, Fla. to Boca Grande ... 10-15 ft

Anclote River, FL to Egmont Key, FL...9-13 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...5-8 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

Suwannee River, FL to Aripeka, FL...2-4 ft

Dry Tortugas...2-4 ft

St. Johns River...2-4 ft

Rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches, with localized totals up to 18 inches, are expected across central to northern portions of the Florida Peninsula through Thursday. This rainfall brings the risk of catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with moderate to major river flooding.