![A satellite image from October 6, 2024, shows Tropical Storm Milton intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico and on track to become a hurricane before its expected landfall in Florida [Handout/CIRA/NOAA via Reuters]](https://mmnews.tv/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Hurricane-Milton.jpg)
The Gulf Coast of Florida on Tuesday is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Milton’s winds and the anticipated high storm surge, which may cause havoc in places still reeling from Ian’s vengeance two years ago and hurting from Helene’s carnage twelve days ago.
Early on Tuesday, a hurricane warning covered nearly the whole west coast of Florida as the storm moved 9 mph (14 kph) toward the state while drawing energy from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The storm’s winds might reach speeds of 250 kph (155 mph).
The strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded was Allen in 1980, which made landfall in Texas and Mexico after traveling across the Caribbean and Gulf at wind speeds of 190 mph (306 kph).
Milton had rapidly strengthened on Monday, reaching a maximum continuous wind speed of 180 mph (285 kph) at midday and classifying as a Category 5 storm until it was downgraded. Despite being downgraded to a Category 4 storm early on Tuesday, experts believed Milton still posed “an extremely serious threat to Florida.”
Where is Milton now and where it expected to make landfall?
An NHC update from 00:00 GMT on Tuesday says that Hurricane Milton is 1,045 km (650 miles) southwest of Tampa.
Milton is traveling in the direction of Florida’s west coast. According to forecasters, Milton is expected to land on Wednesday near the Tampa Bay region of Florida. Moreover, the Yucatan Peninsula in northern Mexico is under a hurricane alert.
