Tue Oct 08 13:55:31 UTC 2024: ## Category 4 Hurricane Milton Threatens Florida Gulf Coast

**TAMPA, FL -** Hurricane Milton, downgraded from a Category 5 storm, is still considered “extremely dangerous” as it barrels towards the Florida Gulf coast. Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the state, causing at least 20 deaths and extensive flooding across the Southeast, residents are bracing for another powerful storm.

Milton, with maximum sustained winds near 145 mph, is forecast to move near Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula Tuesday before crossing the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approaching the west coast of Florida by Wednesday evening. While the hurricane is expected to weaken slightly before landfall, the National Hurricane Center warns it will remain a “very serious situation” and could be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.

Hurricane warnings are in effect for a large portion of Florida’s coastline, stretching from Flamingo at the southern tip to the panhandle, including Tampa Bay. Tropical storm warnings cover much of the state, and a storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 15 feet in Tampa Bay. Milton is also expected to bring 5 to 12 inches of rain, with localized totals up to 18 inches, causing potential life-threatening flooding.

Authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for several counties, including Hillsborough, Lee, Pinellas, Pasco, and Manatee. Tampa International Airport will close at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Major U.S. airlines have issued travel waivers for passengers flying through impacted airports.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 35 counties, warning of a “flurry” of evacuation orders. The storm could trigger the biggest spate of evacuations since Hurricane Irma in 2017, where 7 million people were urged to leave their homes.

“I can say this without any dramatization whatsoever. If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told CNN.

Milton is expected to arrive less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene, a major Category 4 storm, hit Florida on September 26. Helene caused at least 230 deaths across six states and was the deadliest to hit the continental U.S. since Katrina in 2005.

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