TAMPA, Fla. — (AP) — Hurricane Milton churned Wednesday toward a potentially catastrophic collision along the west coast of Florida, where some residents insisted they would stay after millions were ordered to evacuate and officials warned that stragglers would face grim odds of surviving.
The Tampa Bay area, home to more than 3.3 million people, faced the possibility of widespread destruction after avoiding direct hits from major hurricanes for more than a century. The National Hurricane Center predicted Milton, a monstrous Category 5 hurricane during much of its approach, would likely weaken but remain a major hurricane when it makes landfall late Wednesday.
Milton was centered early Wednesday about 360 miles southwest of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported.
Forecasters predicted the storm would retain hurricane strength as it crosses central Florida on Thursday on a path east toward the Atlantic Ocean. However, the hurricane’s precise track remained uncertain as forecasters Tuesday evening nudged its projected path slightly south of Tampa.
Thousands of fleeing cars clogged Florida’s highways ahead of the storm, but time for evacuations was running out Wednesday. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor noted that up to 15 feet of storm surge forecast for her city would be deep enough to swallow an entire house.
“So if you’re in it, basically, that’s the coffin that you’re in,” Castor said.
Milton targets communities still reeling two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded streets and homes in western Florida along its devasting march that left at least 230 dead across the South.
In the bayside town of Punta Gorda, about 100 miles south of Tampa, streets were still filled Tuesday with 5-foot piles of soggy furniture, clothing, books, appliances and other trash dragged from damaged homes.
Hurricane Milton remains ‘catastrophic’ Category 5 storm Meteorologists in Severe Weather Center 9 are tracking Hurricane Milton as it approaches Florida.
Many homes sat vacant, but accountant and art collector Scott Joiner remained on the second floor of the New Orleans-style home he built 17 years ago. Joiner said bull sharks swam in the flooded streets and a neighbor had to be rescued by canoe when Helene passed and flooded the first floor of his home.
“Water is a blessing to have,” Joiner said, “but it is very deadly.”
Joiner said he planned to go another round and ride out Milton, despite the risk.
Authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders across 11 Florida counties with a combined population of about 5.9 million people, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
Officials have warned that anyone staying behind must fend for themselves, as first responders are not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm.
In Riverview, south of Tampa, several drivers waiting in a long line for fuel Tuesday said they had no plans to evacuate.
“I think we’ll just hang, you know — tough it out,” said Martin Oakes, of nearby Apollo Beach. “We got shutters up. The house is all ready. So this is sort of the last piece of the puzzle.”
Others weren’t taking any chances after Helene.
On Anna Marie Island along the southern edge of Tampa Bay, Evan Purcell packed up his father’s ashes and was trying to catch his 9-year-old cat, McKenzie, as he prepared to leave Tuesday. Helene left him with thousands of dollars in damage when his home flooded. He feared Milton might take the rest.
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WFTV Milton 9 PM Update WFTV Milton 9 PM Update
Hurricane Milton downgraded to a Cat. 2 storm Milton is now over interior Manatee County and has decreased to Cat. 2 intensity. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Multiple flash flood warnings issued as Hurricane Milton crosses Central Florida Meteorologist David Heckard said Hurricane Milton continues to slam much of Florida as a Category 2 storm. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton passes through Central Florida, multiple flash flood warnings issued Milton continues to produce intense winds and flooding rains across Central Florida. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton passes through Central Florida, multiple flash flood warnings issued Milton continues to produce intense winds and flooding rains across Central Florida. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton 9 p.m. Milton continues to slam much of Florida, as winds continue to increase across Central Florida. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Flash flood emergency A rare Flash Flood Emergency has been issued for the Tampa Bay Metro Area until 2:30 am. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
WFTV MILTON MAKES LANDFALL WFTV MILTON MAKES LANDFALL
Hurricane Milton nears landfall as a Cat. 3 storm Meteorologist David Heckard said Milton is nearing landfall as a Category 3 major hurricane along the Suncoast. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton nears landfall as a Cat. 3 storm Meteorologist David Heckard said Milton is nearing landfall as a Category 3 major hurricane along the Suncoast. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
5pm Milton update
5pm Milton update
Hurricane Milton remains a powerful Category 4 storm
Hurricane Milton slightly weakens to dangerous Category 4 storm
Tornado Watch includes Polk and Osceola counties
Hurricane Milton remains at a powerful Cat. 5 storm Meteorologist Brian Shields said the biggest thing to watch is the intensity on Wednesday. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton remains at a powerful Cat. 5 storm Meteorologist Brian Shields said the biggest thing to watch is the intensity on Wednesday. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton remains at a powerful Cat. 5 storm Meteorologist Brian Shields said the biggest thing to watch is the intensity on Wednesday. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton remains a powerful Cat. 5 storm Milton remains a powerful Category 5 major hurricane with winds of 160 mph. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton remains a powerful Cat. 5 storm Milton remains a powerful Category 5 major hurricane with winds of 160 mph. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Storm surge potential for Hurricane Milton Storm surge potential for Hurricane Milton (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Storm surge potential for Hurricane Milton Storm surge potential for Hurricane Milton (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton remains a powerful Cat. 5 The 8 pm advisory from the National Hurricane Center keeps Milton with winds of 165 mph, making the storm an intense Category 5 major hurricane. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton remains a powerful Cat. 5 The 8 pm advisory from the National Hurricane Center keeps Milton with winds of 165 mph, making the storm an intense Category 5 major hurricane. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton remains a powerful Cat. 5 The 8 pm advisory from the National Hurricane Center keeps Milton with winds of 165 mph, making the storm an intense Category 5 major hurricane. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton Hurricane Hunters Hurricane Hunters have measured a very low minimum pressure inside Hurricane Milton. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton Cat 5
Hurricane Milton Cat 5
Hurricane Milton Cat 5
Hurricane Milton strengthens back to nearly a Cat. 5 storm
Hurricane Milton gains strength, expected to make landfall near Tampa as major storm
Hurricane Milton 11 am
Hurricane Milton to impact Florida as major storm
Hurricane Milton to impact Florida as major storm
Hurricane Milton to impact Florida as major storm
Hurricane Milton to impact Florida as major storm
Hurricane Milton to impact Florida as major storm
Hurricane Milton to impact Florida as major storm
Hurricane Milton to impact Florida as major storm
Hurricane Milton to impact Florida as major storm
Hurricane Milton to impact Florida as major storm
Hurricane Milton weakens to a Cat. 4, still a major storm Milton has weakened to a Category 4 storm but remains a powerful major hurricane. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton weakens to a Cat. 4, still a major storm Milton has weakened to a Category 4 storm but remains a powerful major hurricane. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton maintains Cat. 5 with slightly weaker winds Hurricane Milton is maintaining a Cat. 5 status with slightly weaker winds. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton maintains Cat. 5 with slightly weaker winds Hurricane Milton is maintaining a Cat. 5 status with slightly weaker winds. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton maintains Cat. 5 with slightly weaker winds Hurricane Milton is maintaining a Cat. 5 status with slightly weaker winds. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton maintains Cat. 5 with slightly weaker winds Hurricane Milton is maintaining a Cat. 5 status with slightly weaker winds. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton 8p (WFTV)
Hurricane Milton 8p (WFTV)
Hurricane Milton 8p (WFTV)
Hurricane Milton Milton continues to intensify as powerful Category 5 major hurricane, with Hurricane Warnings now posted for much of Central Florida. (WFTV)
Hurricane Milton Milton continues to intensify as powerful Category 5 major hurricane, with Hurricane Warnings now posted for much of Central Florida. (WFTV)
Hurricane Milton Milton continues to intensify as powerful Category 5 major hurricane, with Hurricane Warnings now posted for much of Central Florida. (WFTV Staff/WFTV)
Hurricane Milton Milton continues to intensify as powerful Category 5 major hurricane, with Hurricane Warnings now posted for much of Central Florida. (WFTV)
Milton 5 p.m. track
Milton 5 p.m. track
Hurricane Milton ‘explosively intensifies’ into Cat. 5 storm with 175 mph winds
Cat 5 Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton to become Cat. 5 storm, winds currently at 155 mph
Hurricane Milton strengthens into Cat. 4 storm
Hurricane Milton strengthens to major Cat. 3 storm in Gulf of Mexico
Hurricane Milton strengthens to Cat. 2 storm en route to Florida
Hurricane Milton strengthens to Cat. 2 storm en route to Florida
Hurricane Milton strengthens to Cat. 2 storm en route to Florida
Hurricane Milton strengthens to Cat. 2 storm en route to Florida
Hurricane Milton strengthens to Cat. 2 storm en route to Florida
Hurricane Milton strengthens to Cat. 2 storm en route to Florida
Hurricane Milton strengthens to Cat. 2 storm en route to Florida
Hurricane Milton strengthens to Cat. 2 storm en route to Florida
Hurricane Milton strengthens to Cat. 2 storm en route to Florida
Hurricane Milton strengthens to Cat. 2 storm en route to Florida
Tropical Storm Milton moving towards Florida Tropical Storm Milton will gradually gain strength Sunday and will most likely become a hurricane by this Sunday evening.
Tropical Storm Milton moving towards Florida Tropical Storm Milton will gradually gain strength Sunday and will most likely become a hurricane by this Sunday evening.
Tropical Storm Milton moving towards Florida Tropical Storm Milton will gradually gain strength Sunday and will most likely become a hurricane by this Sunday evening.
“I’m still in shock over the first one and here comes round two,” Purcell said. “I just have a pit in my stomach about this one.”
State and local governments scrambled ahead of the storm to remove piles of debris left in Helene’s wake, fearing that the oncoming hurricane would turn loose wreckage into flying missiles. Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state deployed over 300 dump trucks that had removed 1,300 loads of debris.
In Mexico, authorities in the state of Yucatan reported minor damage from Milton as it passed just offshore. Power lines, light poles and trees were knocked down near the coast, and some small thatched-roof structures were destroyed, Yucatan Gov. Joaquín Díaz said. He did not report any deaths or injuries.
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