Hurricane Milton: A 'Destructive' Storm Approaching Florida - Live Updates

 SARASOTA, Fla. − Hurricane Milton weakened slightly on Tuesday but remained an exceptionally powerful storm that could double in size before hitting west-central Florida late Wednesday.

"Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida," warned John Cangialosi, a specialist with the National Hurricane Center, in a Tuesday update. He emphasized that damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, and heavy rainfall will extend well beyond the forecast cone.

After experiencing rapid intensification on Monday, Milton's sustained winds reached 180 mph. By early Tuesday, those winds had decreased to 145 mph, still categorizing it as a fierce Category 4 storm. Cangialosi noted that fluctuations in the storm's strength are likely as it approaches the coast.

Forecasts predict storm surges of up to 15 feet for Sarasota, Tampa, and other west-central regions. Evacuations were underway, and state officials suspended tolls and opened road shoulders to traffic. Shelters were established across all 67 Florida counties. Authorities urged residents in evacuation zones not to attempt to ride out the storm.

“I can say without exaggeration, if you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re risking your life,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor during an interview with CNN.

The National Hurricane Center anticipates Milton will make landfall as a major hurricane late Wednesday into early Thursday on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Current Developments:

• Milton was located approximately 545 miles southwest of Tampa early Tuesday, moving east-northeast at 12 mph.
• The storm was expected to hit the northern edge of the Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday, an area known for its colonial-era city of Merida, its 1.2 million residents, several popular Maya ruins, and the port of Progreso.

Local Preparations: In Manatee County, stores were busy with customers preparing for Hurricane Milton. East Bradenton resident Karen Tonkin Wakefield visited a Lowe's Home Improvement Store and an Aldi Grocery store for final supplies. “I’ve lived here since 1982. I have two homes in Parrish, and I’m just getting a few last-minute things,” she said. “I’m feeling okay, not panicking because we had a lot left from the last one (Hurricane Helene) just a couple of weeks ago.”

Could Milton Become a Category 6 Hurricane? While Hurricane Milton is rapidly intensifying, it won’t officially become a Category 6 hurricane, as that category does not currently exist. However, it could reach levels comparable to a hypothetical Category 6, igniting discussions about whether the National Hurricane Center’s classification system for hurricane wind speeds, which ranges from Category 1 to 5, needs revision.

According to climate scientist Michael Wehner from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Jim Kossin, a retired federal scientist, if Milton had reached wind speeds of 192 mph, it would have surpassed a threshold achieved by only five hurricanes and typhoons since 1980. The two researchers authored a study exploring whether extreme storms might warrant the creation of a Category 6 designation. They clarified that they are not proposing to add a Category 6 to the scale but aim to contribute to broader discussions about the increasing risks posed by climate change.

Milton’s Unusual Path: Fueled by warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Milton became the third-fastest intensifying storm on record in the Atlantic, transitioning from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in less than 24 hours. Its unusual west-to-east trajectory contrasts with typical Gulf hurricanes, which usually form in the Caribbean and make landfall after heading west and turning north.

Jonathan Lin, an atmospheric scientist at Cornell University, stated, "It is exceedingly rare for a hurricane to form in the western Gulf, track eastward, and make landfall on the western coast of Florida. This has significant implications, as the storm's path affects where the storm surge will be most severe."