Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall near Florida’s Tampa Bay by Wednesday|@NWS|X
Hurricane Milton is on its way to Florida—where it is expected to make landfall in a few days—just a week after Hurricane Helene battered parts of the Southeast. Currently a Category 1 storm with 85 mph winds, Milton is expected to intensify into a Category 4 hurricane with winds over 130 mph.
Landfall is predicted for Wednesday on Florida’s west coast. The storm could be life-threatening and cause a surge, up to 15 inches of rain, and dangerous winds, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 51 counties and is urging residents to prepare and know evacuation zones.
While the storm is expected to be weaker than Helene, CBS News reports that South Florida communities in Miami-Dade County and the Everglades have already reported flooding.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is preparing resources while debris removal continues in areas devastated by Hurricane Helene, which caused an estimated $15 billion to $26 billion in damage and killed over 200 people.