Floridians have been issued a stark warning as they brace for the impact of Hurricane Milton’s winds and expected massive storm surge, which forecasters say could come ashore Wednesday in the Tampa Bay region.
Almost the entirety of Florida’s west coast is under a hurricane warning early Tuesday as the storm and its 155mph winds creep toward the state at 9mph, sucking energy from the Gulf of Mexico’s warm water.
Milton has weakened from a Category 5 hurricane – the strongest type – to a slightly weaker Category 4. But forecasters have warned it could become a Cat 5 again later today, with landfall expected Wednesday.
The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay has said that ‘if the storm stays on the current track, it will be the worst storm to impact the Tampa area in over 100 years.’ Mayor Jane Castor has warned the city’s nearly 400,000 residents that if they don’t evacuate, ‘you are going to die.’
Startling spaghetti models show the hurricane’s deadly path covering vast swathes of Florida.
Follow our live blog for the latest updates as the storm edges towards the US:
12:21
Video: Crazy lightning seen striking Cancun
14:02
Tampa International Airport emptied out an hour after closure
13:41
Tornadoes and waterspouts to hit parts of Florida this evening
13:37
Ron DeSantis says Kamala Harris has 'no role' in hurricane efforts
13:23
Gridlock hits major roads out of Florida cities where Milton is set to strike
13:08
Tampa International Airport has CLOSED
13:03
Tampa, where Milton is set to make landfall is 'the most vulnerable metro area in the US' to storm surges – expert
12:54
Hurricane Milton is set to double in size by nightfall on Wednesday
12:29
Satellite images show Milton swirling in the Gulf of Mexico
11:33
Hurricane Milton will hit as Hurricane Helene death toll continues to rise
11:19
Tampa Airport will close indefinitely from 9am ET this morning,
10:28
Thousands are trapped in Florida's Hurricane hell as traffic queues clog roads and gas is running out while monster storm Milton closes in and officials warn residents to 'flee or die'
10:27
White House 'ready to respond' to 'any' devastation brought by Hurricane Milton
10:06
Red Cross racing against time to mobilize refuge for evacuees
09:48
Residents clog highways amid evacuations from Florida towns still reeling from Hurricane Ian
09:36
Milton could regain Category 5 strength today, hurricane center warns
09:03
Video: Emergency beds set up in stadium as Floridians brace for Hurricane Milton
08:55
Kamala Harris issues urgent warning to Floridians to listen to evacuation orders
08:48
Hurricane Milton presents 'extremely life-threatening situation' with storm surge expected to buffet west coast of Florida tomorrow
08:44
Pictures: Tourists evacuate before Hurricane Milton lands in Mexico – as buildings are boarded up and curfews enforced
08:15
Florida orders evacuations ahead of Hurricane Milton
07:45
When will Hurricane Milton make landfall?
05:24
Images show Hurricane Milton ramping up to Category 5 storm
05:11
Hurricane Milton supercharges into monster 180mph storm so quickly experts call for it to be given unprecedented Category 6 status: 'This is nothing short of astronomical'
04:23
Moment wild lightning strike hits Cancun on outer bands of Hurricane Milton
03:53
Social media users claim Florida residents unable to afford evacuating ahead of Milton
02:45
Residents and tourists begin to evacuate Mexico ahead of Milton landfall
01:55
Tampa Bay mayor: If you don't evacuate for Hurricane Milton, 'you're going to die'
01:25
Joe Biden speaks to Ron DeSantis about Hurricane Milton prep after Kamala Harris call rejected
00:49
Meteorologist calls 'astronomical' Milton fourth strongest hurricane 'ever on this side of the world'
00:37
Hurricane Milton throws NFL teams, college football games, NHL season openers into flux
23:57
Photos, video show Floridians begin to evacuate before 'worst storm in 100 years' Milton
23:09
National Weather Service says Milton could be worst storm to hit Tampa Bay in 100 years
21:57
Graphic shows potentially devastating path Hurricane Milton could take through Florida
21:14
Hurricane Milton hits winds of 180 MPH as Storm Surge Warnings issued for west coast of Florida
20:53
Florida Congresswoman's stern warning
20:26
'Mother Nature wins 100% of the time'
19:57
Cayman Airways is offering an evacuation flight to students
19:39
Major Florida cities set to be struck by Milton
19:31
Fishermen in Mexico have towed their boats out of the sea ahead of the hurricane moving in
18:33
Milton 'explosively' intensifies with 175mph winds
18:31
Emergency hotline opened in anticipation of 'catastrophic' hurricane
17:32
Milton will be worst disaster in Florida history, veteran meteorologist warns
16:48
Tampa Bay Rays baseball stadium converted into refuge shelter
16:46
Florida deluged with heavy rain ahead of hurricane barreling in
16:38
Extraordinary satellite visual shows lightning inside the eye of the hurricane
16:32
Milton's storm surge is now projected to reach up to 15 feet
16:28
Hurricane Milton interactive tracker: Watch the path of deadly storm
15:58
Milton intensifies into a Category 5 hurricane with 160mph winds
15:54
Tampa Bay residents brace for the hurricane in streets still littered with debris from Helene
15:31
Hurricane Milton is forecast to become a Category 5 storm
15:25
American flag turned upside down in distress signal outside home in Treasure Island
15:17
Time is running out to book last-minute flights out of Tampa – while gas pumps run out of fuel
15:05
'Please leave': Florida Congresswoman issues warning to Gulf Coast residents
14:57
'Take this storm very seriously': Ron DeSantis issues warning
14:46
Disaster relief agency FEMA hits back at 'slow to respond' accusations
14:38
Gulf Coast residents prepare for deluge with sandbags
14:27
Milton expected to strike many of the communities still reeling from Helene
14:23
Tampa residents warned they have less than 24 hours to get a plane out
14:17
Disney's Orlando park remains open despite Hurricane Milton warnings
13:32
Spaghetti models show Milton's projected path of destruction
13:29
Florida AG issues dire warning to residents who refuse to leave
13:10
Milton upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane
12:26
Florida roads in gridlock as people flock to evacuate
19:28
Hurricane specialist fights back tears live on air over 'horrific' incoming storm
14:09