Hurricane Milton downgraded to Cat 3, but grew in size, spawning tornadoes across southern Florida (2024)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hurricane Milton continued to weaken in intensity Wednesday afternoon but the storm grew in size and will remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane through landfall in Florida late Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

The National Hurricane Center said the Southern Florida peninsula is already seeing tornadic supercells sweep through from the hurricane.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Hurricane Milton sustained winds dropped to 120 mph with higher gusts, making it a Category 3 storm. Its position was about 60 miles southwest of Sarasota and 170 miles from Orlando.

It’s speeding up as it closes in on landfall, now traveling northeast at 17 mph, but a northeastward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected through this evening. A turn toward the east-northeast and east is expected on Thursday and Friday.

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 Wednesday night, possibly as a Category 3, and move off the east coast of Florida over the western Atlantic Ocean on Thursday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 255 miles.

The most recent minimum central pressure estimated from Hurricane Hunter aircraft observations is 948 mb.

A NOAA saildrone located approximately 50 miles east of the center recently reported a sustained wind of 51 mph with a gust of 63 mph.

Because Milton is a more compact storm, it is harder to predict because its speed, strength and track can shift very quickly.

Be sure to follow our updates on each advisory because things could change fast with this storm, and we want you to be safe.

Watches and warnings for Florida

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:

• Florida’s 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

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

• Florida’s west coast from Bonita Beach northward to Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay

• Florida’s east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line northward to Ponte Vedra Beach

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:

• Lake Okeechobee

• Florida’s east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to the Palm Beach/Martin County Line

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

• Florida Keys, including Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay

• Lake Okeechobee

• Florida’s west coast from Flamingo to south of Bonita Beach

• Florida’s west coast from north of Suwanee River to Indian Pass

• Florida east coast south of the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to Flamingo

• North of Ponte Vedra Beach Florida to the Savannah River

• Extreme northwestern Bahamas, including Grand Bahama Island, the Abacos, and Bimini

Impacts

RAINFALL: 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.

• Locally: The lowest accumulation of rain begins in Southeast Georgia and increases closer to Flagler, Putnam and Volusia counties. Flash flooding probabilities range from 15% to 40% with Southeast Georgia at the lowest risk and counties south of I-10 and along the coast with the highest chances.

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area across Florida beginning this evening through Thursday morning and are possible in the hurricane watch area on Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in the warning area on the west coast of Florida in a few hours, spreading across the peninsula and reaching the east coast tonight. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in the warning area along the Georgia coast on Thursday.

• Tropical storm force winds are at a minimum of 39 mph, sustained for at least 60 seconds and up to 73 mph. Anything above 73 mph is considered hurricane-force winds. Arrival time for winds could start as soon as late Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning, well before the eye makes landfall.

TORNADOES: Several tornadoes are likely today and tonight across
parts of central and southern Florida. Some tornadoes were reported Wednesday morning.

SURF: Swells generated by Milton are expected to continue to affect much of the Gulf Coast during the next day or two and are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.