MIAMI – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s hurricane hunter aircraft departed early Sunday morning to investigate Milton, a tropical storm forecasted to strengthen into a hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center’s forecast Sunday warned Milton would cross the Gulf of Mexico and Florida from the west to the east coast and into the Atlantic.
Local 10 News Weather Authority meteorologists expect Milton to strengthen rapidly as it continues its move east through the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
It was still too soon to determine the specifics of the hurricane’s Florida landfall next week, but the Tampa Bay area was highly likely.
The National Weather Center expected heavy rainfall to continue in South Florida through Sunday and Monday and Milton’s effect to start Tuesday.
Last checked, Milton was about 345 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 860 miles west-southwest of Tampa. It had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph.
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 35 counties, including Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties. He ordered the removal of Hurricane Helene debris to be done as fast as possible.
Here is the latest from the NHC:
At 4 a.m., Milton moved eastbound at 5 mph with 50 mph maximum sustained winds and higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center.
It is forecast to become a hurricane on Sunday night and continue moving east in the Gulf of Mexico and east-northeastward. It will likely shift to a faster northeastward motion by midweek as it approaches Florida.
Floridians should expect 5 to 8 inches of rainfall, with localized totals of up to 12 inches through Wednesday night.
Milton will generate swells with the potential of life-threatening surf and rip currents. This will affect the coast of the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Sunday and the Gulf Coast next week.
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