Hurricane Milton — live updates from WKRG News 5

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Hurricane Milton is approaching Florida and is predicted to make landfall as a major hurricane Wednesday evening, according to WKRG News 5’s First Alert Storm Team .

Milton comes as the area tries to recover from Hurricane Helene. Here are the latest newscast updates featuring storm coverage.

Milton Updates

(6 p.m.): WKRG’s Chief Meteorologist Ed Bloodsworth said Milton is currently a category 5 hurricane with winds as high as 165 mph though it is expected to make landfall as a category 3 storm. He noted that the track of the storm continues to shift, with it expected to hit Florida a bit south of the Tampa Bay area.

• Cars are bumper to bumper on Interstate 295 near Jacksonville as many evacuate ahead of Milton’s landfall.
• WKRG’s Asher Redd is in Saint Petersburg, Florida, which is located about 30 minutes away from Tampa.
• As some are evacuating, others are preparing to head to Florida to help out. Some heading down to help with Milton’s recovery efforts include authorities like the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Power and Light .

(5 p.m.): WKRG News 5 Chief Meteorologist Ed Bloodsworth said Milton’s track has slightly changed, and it has moved southern and is still set to make landfall on the west coast of Florida.

• News 5’s Asher Redd is in Saint Petersburg where locals are preparing for “round 2” after Hurricane Helene’s impact is still being felt.
• Riviera Utilities, Fairhope’s Public Utility Crews, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will be offering resources for relief efforts.
• WKRG’s Debbie Williams is in Stockton where an RV park is offering a free place to stay for evacuees.

(4 p.m.): WKRG News 5 Chief Meteorologist Ed Bloodsworth says Hurricane Milton is currently a category 5 storm and is predicted to make landfall as a category 3 storm.

• WKRG’s Asher Redd is reporting from Saint Petersburg where he says there is still debris from Hurricane Helene. There are currently 9 counties in Florida under mandatory evacuation, and residents in the area say they think the debris will be dangerous when the storm hits.
• WKRG’s Kathryn Bruch reported live from the City of Mobile’s administrative complex where local firefighters and other officials met before heading down to Live Oak, Florida to assist with the impacts of Milton.
• WKRG’s Alexa Daly reported live and talked to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office who is heading back down to Florida to help with Milton after recently getting back after assisting with recovery efforts in the aftermath of Helene.

News 5 has learned that the Pensacola Bay Center is now open for those who are evacuating from their homes as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida. Pets are welcome along with evacuees thanks to the Escambia Department of Animal Welfare.

For more Hurricane Helene coverage, visit the links below:

• Is it safe to be outside in Hurricane Milton’s eye? Here’s what experts say
• What happens at Disney World during a hurricane?

Updates from the storm can also be found on WKRG News 5’s weather page .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.