Florida, Oct 10 (V7N) − Residents along Florida’s west coast have been urged to take immediate shelter as Hurricane Milton closes in, bringing life-threatening conditions. The National Weather Service has warned of rapidly worsening weather as the storm approaches, delivering strong winds, heavy rain, and tornado threats.

With sustained winds now at 120 mph, Milton remains a Category 3 hurricane, although it has weakened slightly from its previous 145 mph intensity. Despite the drop in wind speed, the storm has expanded, increasing the scope of its potential destruction. According to the National Hurricane Center, tropical-storm-force winds now extend as far as 255 miles from the center, with landfall expected "near or just south of the Tampa Bay area this evening," around 5 p.m. ET.

Earlier in the day, millions of Floridians were ordered or urged to evacuate, especially in Tampa, which remains in the storm’s direct path. The storm's center is predicted to cross the Gulf of Mexico and hit Florida’s coast later tonight. Forecaster Austen Flannery from the National Weather Service in Tampa described the situation as “historic, catastrophic, life-threatening.”

Rotating supercell thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes have already begun sweeping across the state. Over 12 million people remain under tornado warnings, and the National Weather Service in Miami reported "up to 4 visually confirmed tornadoes," with unofficial reports of additional sightings.

Milton is projected to track across Florida, maintaining hurricane strength as it heads into the Atlantic on Thursday. This comes just weeks after Hurricane Helene struck Florida’s Big Bend, leaving behind a vulnerable state before causing further damage in the Carolinas.

Tampa, a metro area with more than 3 million people, is facing its first direct hit from a major hurricane in over a century. The National Hurricane Center predicts a storm surge of up to 12 feet in some areas.

Gov. Ron DeSantis assured Floridians that state emergency services are fully prepared. Over 6,000 Florida National Guard members, with an additional 3,000 from other states, have been deployed, along with 180 high-water rescue vehicles. Utility companies have stationed 50,000 linemen to restore power after the storm.

Key updates:

As of 6 p.m. ET, Hurricane Milton is positioned 50 miles west-southwest of Sarasota, moving northeast at 15 mph.

Rainfall of 6 to 12 inches is expected across central and northern Florida, with localized amounts reaching up to 18 inches.

More than two dozen counties have mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders, and over 20 million people in Florida and Georgia are under storm warnings.

Milton’s path could impact approximately 2.8% of U.S. GDP, with airlines, energy firms, and entertainment companies halting operations in anticipation of the storm’s arrival.

Stay tuned for further updates as Hurricane Milton makes landfall.

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