NHC: Hurricane Milton's winds now at 145 mph, remains strong Cat 4

Hurricane and storm surge warnings for the Florida peninsula have been issued as Category 4 Hurricane Milton slowly moves toward the area.

What You Need to Know:

• The hurricane has slowed down slightly, and wind speed has decreased.
• Sustained winds are now at 145 miles per hour.
• The storm is forecast to impact portions of Florida's west coast by Wednesday.

At 8 a.m. Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said that Hurricane Milton was located about 545 miles southwest of Tampa and was moving east-northeast at 12 mph.

WATCH: Governor Ron DeSantis Oct. 8 Press Conference on Hurricane Milton

Milton is expected to turn toward the east-northeast and northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On the forecast track, the center of Milton is forecast to move just north of the Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula on Wednesday. The hurricane will likely make landfall in Florida Wednesday night.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.

A Hurricane WARNING is in effect for:

• Celestun to Rio Lagartos
• Florida west coast from Bonita Beach northward to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay
• Florida east coast from the Indian River/St. Lucie County Line northward to Ponte Vedra Beach

A Storm Surge WARNING is in effect for:

• West coast of Florida from Flamingo northward to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay'
• East coast of Florida from the Volusia/Brevard County Line northward to the mouth of the St. Mary's River, including the St. Johns River.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:

• Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche
• Dry Tortugas
• Lake Okeechobee
• Florida west coast from Chokoloskee to south of Bonita Beach

A Storm Surge WATCH is in effect for:

• Sebastian Inlet to the Volusia/Brevard County Line
• Mouth of the St. Mary's River to Edisto Beach

A Tropical Storm WARNING is in effect for:

• Rio Lagartos to Cancun
• All of the Florida Keys, including Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay
• Lake Okeechobee
• Florida west coast from Flamingo to south of Bonita Beach
• Florida west coast from north of the mouth of the Suwanee River to Indian Pass
• Florida east coast south of the Indian River/St. Lucie County Line to Flamingo
• Florida east coast north of Ponte Vedra Beach to the mouth of the St. Mary's River

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

• Coast of Georgia and South Carolina from north of the mouth of the St. Marys River to South Santee River, South Carolina

RESOURCES

• Hurricane Center
• Local Forecast
• Radar
  

Hurricane Milton is currently going through an ERC or Eyewall Replacement Cycle, which will temporarily weaken the system.