Hurricane Milton tracker: Category 4 storm 'extremely dangerous'

Hurricane Milton, now a powerful Category 4 hurricane, is taking aim at Florida's west coast. Landfall is expected late Wednesday night, possibly as a Category 3 hurricane.

Milton is closing in as Floridians are still recovering from the devastation unleashed by Hurricane Helene.

Latest Developments

_{Oct 8, 11:02 AM}

Florida Aquarium moving animals to higher ground

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa is moving animals to the facility’s highest level ahead of Hurricane Milton.

During Hurricane Helene, the aquarium took on 3 feet of water along the wharf, marking the first time in the aquarium’s 30 years that water breached the wharf. With a bigger storm surge forecast for Milton, aquarium officials are expecting the first floor to take on water.

Usually aquarium staff members will stay with the animals to ride out a Category 1 or 2 hurricane. But because of the severity of Milton, all staff members will evacuate mid-day Wednesday and plan to return on Thursday.

_{Oct 8, 9:55 AM}

Hurricane warnings extend to Florida’s east coast

Hurricane warnings are in effect in Tampa, Fort Myers and Orlando as Hurricane Milton closes in.

Hurricane and storm surge warnings have now also been issued for parts of Florida’s east coast, including Daytona Beach, Cape Canaveral and Melbourne.

-ABC News’ Max Golembo

_{Oct 8, 9:11 AM}

DeSantis: Use today to finalize and execute your safety plan

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday urged Floridians to "use today as your day to finalize and execute the plan that is going to protect you and your family" from Hurricane Milton.

Landfall is expected around 11 p.m. Wednesday and the Tampa Bay area is forecast to face a record-breaking storm surge of 10 to 15 feet.

About 1,200 truckloads of debris left by Hurricane Helene have been removed over the last 24 hours, and that removal will continue until it’s no longer safe to do so, DeSantis said.

The governor said 37,000 linemen are either in Florida or on the way to help with power outages.

Twenty-seven fuel trucks were escorted by Florida Highway Patrol overnight to help gas stations running out of fuel, he said.

-ABC News’ Darren Reynolds

_{Oct 8, 8:33 AM}

Counties issue mandatory evacuation orders

Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in parts of counties along Florida's west coast and even Florida's east coast, including in Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Volusia.

"If you live in a storm surge evacuation zone and you're asked to leave by your local officials, please do that," Michael Brennan, the director of NOAA's national hurricane center, told ABC News Live on Sunday. "You don't have to drive hundreds of miles to get to a safe place, often just tens of miles to get inland, out of that evacuation zone, to a shelter, a friend or loved one's home."

Brennan also urged Floridians to prepare a disaster kit with several days’ worth of nonperishable food, water, medicine and batteries.

_{Oct 8, 10:18 AM}

Tracking Milton: Latest forecast

Milton is now a Category 4 hurricane and its outer bands will start lashing Florida's west coast by Wednesday morning.

Landfall is expected around 11 p.m. Wednesday between St. Petersburg and Sarasota, possibly as a Category 3 hurricane.

Tampa Bay is forecast to face a record-breaking storm surge of 10 to 15 feet.

Storm surge in Fort Myers could reach 6 to 10 feet.

As Milton moves over Florida, winds ahead of the system could push storm surge up to 5 feet in Jacksonville and up to 4 feet in Savannah.

Up to 18 inches of rain is possible by the end of the storm.

-ABC News’ Max Golembo

_{Oct 8, 11:05 AM}

Nearly 700 flights canceled Tuesday, another 1,500 canceled Wednesday

Nearly 700 flights have been canceled across the country on Tuesday and another 1,500 flights are canceled on Wednesday as Hurricane Milton closes in on Florida.

The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Orlando International Airport and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport are all set to close.

The Florida Division of Emergency Services said it has partnered with Uber to provide free rides to and from shelters as residents evacuate ahead of Milton.

_{Oct 8, 5:17 AM}

Milton becomes 'powerful' Category 4 storm

Hurricane Milton's maximum sustained winds were at about 155 mph early Tuesday, classifying the storm as a "powerful" Category 4 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said.

"While fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida," the center said in a 1 a.m. ET update.

-ABC News' Jessica Gorman

_{Oct 8, 12:39 AM}

Hurricane Milton still Category 5, but winds slow to 165 mph

As of its 11 p.m. ET update, the National Hurricane Center said that Hurricane Milton now has wind speeds of 165 mph, slowing down by 15 mph from earlier Monday.

The storm still poses an "extremely serious threat" to Florida, the NHC said.

It's currently moving toward the Northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, per the NHC.

It is still forecast by the NHC to weaken to a Category 3 before making landfall late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

-ABC News Senior Meteorologist Melissa Griffin

_{Oct 7, 9:57 PM}

President Biden speaks with Gov. DeSantis ahead of Milton hitting Florida

With Hurricane Milton inching closer to Florida, President Joe Biden spoke with Gov. Ron DeSantis and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor Monday night, the White House said.

"This evening, the President had separate calls with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor to get a firsthand report on recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene, and to discuss preparations for Hurricane Milton," the White House said in a statement. "He asked the Governor and the Mayor to call him directly if there is anything that can be done to further support the response and recovery efforts."

Biden also spoke with director of the National Weather Service Kein Graham, who briefed him on the "expected impacts" of Milton on Florida.

Graham emphasized that "this hurricane could have major impacts and that people in the storm's path should evacuate now while there is ample time to do so," according to the White House.

-ABC News' Molly Nagel

_{Oct 7, 8:23 PM}

Milton strongest hurricane in Gulf in nearly 20 years

Milton is now the strongest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, by both wind and pressure, in nearly two decades, ABC News has determined.

As of 8 p.m. ET, Hurricane Milton's winds were holding steady at 180 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Hunters report that Milton's pressure has fallen to near a new record low of 897 mb. It is currently 650 miles southwest of Tampa, the NHC said.

-ABC News Senior Meteorologist Melissa Griffin

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