Expected Hurricane Milton headed to Florida as Helene clean up continues

The Florida Gulf Coast will soon be preparing for another hurricane as Tropical Storm Milton is expected to become a hurricane later Sunday afternoon and hit Florida’s coast by mid-week.

The Southeast, notably the Blue Mountain region in North Carolina, is still devastated by the effects of Hurricane Helene. As of 8 a.m. ET Sunday, Milton was 860 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida with maximum sustained winds estimated to be 65 mph.

“There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday. Residents in these areas should ensure they have their hurricane plan in place, follow any advice given by local officials, and check back for updates to the forecast,” the National Hurricane Center warned.

In a news briefing Sunday, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said that Milton is expected to make landfall in Hillsborough or Pinellas counties by Wednesday evening.

“I don’t think there’s any scenario where we don’t have significant impacts at this point,” DeSantis said.

President Joe Biden was briefed Sunday morning on Tropical Storm Milton and its effects on the Florida Gulf Coast, as well as the work FEMA is doing in preparation.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said the agency is “absolutely” prepared for Tropical Storm Milton, noting she spoke with DeSantis on the matter.

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Milton comes less than 10 days after Helene made landfall and devastated mountain communities and Florida’s Gulf Coast. North Carolina and Tennessee are not in the line of projection for this storm at this time.

This storm will be the fifth hurricane to make landfall on the U.S. mainland in 2024. That number ties 2004, 2005, and 1893 for the most hurricanes on record to land in the country.