Hurricane Milton is on track to hit Florida on Wednesday, with the storm likely keeping its path within the state’s borders. However, several neighboring states might also feel its effects.
As of Monday morning, Milton was upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane, boasting maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour, as reported by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area, but forecasts still offer uncertainty regarding wind speeds upon impact.
With the storm approaching, NHC officials have issued various warnings, resulting in multiple hurricane-related alerts across Florida. Additionally, regions far from the hurricane’s center could still experience significant weather effects, as indicated on NHC maps.
Floridians should brace for heavy rains and powerful winds. Areas in southeast Georgia could see up to 8 inches of rain, while parts of southeast South Carolina, including Charleston, may receive up to 2 inches. Other regions like southeastern Georgia, southeastern South Carolina, and parts of Alabama and North Carolina could experience tropical storm-level winds as Milton moves through Florida.
In recent history, Hurricane Helene struck Florida’s Big Bend region on September 26 as another Category 4 storm, causing significant devastation across the Southern U.S. The aftermath led to widespread power outages across Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. While Milton’s forecasted path appears less impactful than Helene’s, Governor Ron DeSantis noted that residual debris from Helene could exacerbate damage from Milton. He cautioned, “Areas with a lot of debris could face even greater damage if hit by another major hurricane.”
Forecasts suggest that Milton’s northern winds could reach southeast Georgia with at least tropical storm force. However, with more than 48 hours before any impacts are felt, no additional weather alerts have been issued yet.
In Florida, hurricane watches and storm surge alerts are in place, alongside a local hurricane statement for southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia, maintained by the Tallahassee NWS office that oversees those areas.