Hurricane Milton live updates: Thousands evacuate as Florida braces for monster Category 5 storm
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and state officials pleaded with residents to evacuate ahead of Wednesday’s projected landfall
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Milton restrengthened into a Category 5 hurricane late Tuesday afternoon as it moved toward western Florida.
Governor Ron DeSantis warned the state’s residents that “time is running out” for them to evacuate.
“You may have a window where it may be safe, but you may not,” he said. “So, use today as your day to finalize and execute the plan that is going to protect you and your family.”
His warning comes after Tampa mayor Jane Castor told CNN on Monday that residents will die if they don’t evacuate as Hurricane Milton races towards the state’s west coast.
Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of the Sunshine State almost two weeks ago, was a “wake-up call,” she said. Milton could be “literally catastrophic,” Castor added.
The potential “once in a lifetime” storm rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane on Monday with sustained winds surpassing 180mph, before slowing to Category 4 on Tuesday.
The National Hurricane Center has warned that Milton may regain strength and grow in size, posing “even more danger” as it is expected to make landfall in Florida by Wednesday evening, slamming into the densely populated Tampa Bay.
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration on Monday after pledging “life-saving resources in advance of the storm,” the day prior.
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What is it like being in a Category 5 hurricane?
A Category 5 hurricane like Milton is catastrophic for those in its path. But it’s hard to understand what it’s like inside until it hits.
The storm’s strength is measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which ranks hurricanes based on the sustained wind speed of the storm. A Category 5 decimates homes, leaving areas uninhabitable for weeks or months after it passes. Coming with maximum sustained winds of 157mph or higher, it tears roofs apart, shatters glass, and collapses walls, trees and power poles.
The Independents US Science and Climate Correspondent Julia Musto has the full story.
Hurricane Milton: What is a Category 5 hurricane and what is it like?
Hurricane Milton is expected to bring unsurvivable storm surge up to 15ft to parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast by Wednesday
Monica Medina hits at Project 2025 plans for weather services: Trump plan is ‘as dangerous as these storms themselves'
Monica Medina, the State Department’s former assistant secretary for ocean, environment, and science, took a swipe at Project 2025’s call for the break up of weather and climate service amid a busy Atlantic hurricane season.
“The Trump plan is as dangerous as these storms themselves ... If we dismantle [the National Weather Service] we lose this one vital link to keeping ourselves safe,” she told “Morning Joe” on Tuesday.
What is happening at Tampa airport?
Tampa International Airport is the first major hub to be hit by Hurricane Milton.
Operations will be suspended from 9am ET today, with many flights to TPA canceled on Monday evening, with one Spirit Airlines flight from Chicago getting as far as the taxiway prior to take off before being called back.
All outbound flights from 9am local time have been canceled, though several flights due to take off in the following hour have been pre-poned (brought forward) to allow them to depart.
“TPA plans to resume services as soon as it is safe to do so later this week, but passengers should check with their airlines regarding flight schedules,” the airport said.
Milton to bring life-threatening flash flooding, major river flooding
Vice President Harris on Milton, DeSantis response: ‘This one is gonna be different’
“This one is gonna be different, and that’s why I called the governor about what Florida has received in terms of impact,” Vice President Kamala Harris told “The View” on Tuesday morning.
Can Hurricane Milton become a ‘Category 6’ storm – which doesn’t yet exist?
Hurricane Milton’s rapid intensification to a Category 5 storm has shocked forecasters, but it is just the latest in a series of storms so extreme that the current hurricane scale may no longer fully capture their severity.
The potential “once in a lifetime” storm rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane in a matter of a few hours.
The National Hurricane Center has warned that Milton may gain more strength and grow in size, posing “even more danger” as it looks to make landfall in Florida by Wednesday evening, slamming into the densely populated Tampa Bay.
Stuti Mishra has more.
Can Hurricane Milton become a ‘Category 6’ storm – which doesn’t yet exist?
Further rise in global temperatures could lead to more extreme storms like Helene and Milton and create the need for adding another category, researchers say
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warns residents that ‘time is running out’ to evacuate
Gov. Ron DeSantis told Florida residents on Tuesday that “time is running out” ahead of Hurricane Milton.
“There’s no guarantee what the weather’s going to be like starting Wednesday morning,” he said during a press conference.
“You may have a window where it may be safe, but you may not,” he added. “So use today as your day to finalize and execute the plan that is going to protect you and your family.”
K-12 schools closed across 43 Florida counties ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall
K-12 schools across 43 of Florida’s 46 counties are set to close on Wednesday, in anticipation of Hurricane Milton making landfall on the state’s west coast.
Ten of those schools are expected to reopen on Thursday after the storm slams into Tampa on Wednesday night. Others remain closed for the rest f the week.
“The Florida Department of Education works closely with school districts before, during and after natural disasters to ensure they have the resources necessary to resume normal operations as quickly as possible. We will continue collaborating with district leadership to address questions as they arise,” a statement reads on the Florida Department of Education’s website.
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