Hurricane Milton tracker, path, category, landfall date: State of emergency in Florida. Check windspeed, rains, storm surge

Milton rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on Monday on a path toward Florida population centers including Tampa and Orlando, threatening a dangerous storm surge in Tampa Bay and setting the stage for potential mass evacuations less than two weeks after a catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline, as per AP report.

Milton had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 kph) over the southern Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The storm could make landfall Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area and remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean.

Category 4 Hurricane means windspeed is likely to hover between 130 mph and 156 mph. Catastrophic damage occurs when Category 4 Hurricane strikes.


"Further strengthening is expected, and Milton is forecast to become an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane later today and maintain that intensity for the next couple of days," the US National Hurricane Center said.

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The US National Hurricane Center warned of storm surges raising water levels by five feet (1.5 m) along the Yucatan Peninsula and large, destructive waves on the coast. Rainfall of ten inches (25 cm), with localized spots of up to 15 inches (38 cm), are expected to cause havoc in Florida, bringing flash flooding in urban areas.

Emergency workers are still racing to provide relief in the aftermath of Helene, which killed more than 225 people in several states across the US southeast.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared 51 of the state's 67 counties under a state of emergency for Milton, predicting the storm could have "major impacts."

President Joe Biden was briefed and said in a statement his administration was readying "life-saving resources."

Hurricane Helene hit the Florida coastline as a Category 4 storm, dumping torrential rainfall, and later causing massive flooding in remote towns in states further in land, including North Carolina.

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The storm, which struck Florida on September 26, was the deadliest natural disaster to hit the United States since 2005's Hurricane Katrina, with the death toll still rising.

Communities, particularly those in mountainous areas, have been left without power and drinking water.

FAQs

Q1. When will Hurricane Milton strike?
A1. Hurricane Milton is set to hit Florida by Wednesday.

Q2. What is the category of Hurricane Milton?
A2. Milton rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on Monday.