Just under two weeks after Hurricane Helene left Florida reeling from widespread flooding, Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified and is now barreling toward the state’s Gulf Coast. The storm is forecasted to strike the Tampa Bay area directly, threatening the region’s population of over 3.3 million people.
Milton’s arrival could bring further devastation to the same coastal areas already battered by Helene. Traffic on Interstate 75 has been heavy with residents evacuating northward, while recovery crews are still working to clear debris from Helene’s aftermath.
When Will Hurricane Milton Make Landfall?
The National Hurricane Center reports that Hurricane Milton is expected to hit Florida’s west coast late on Wednesday. By then, it is projected to be a powerful Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of 111-129 mph (180-210 kph), as it makes landfall near the Tampa Bay region. This area hasn’t seen a direct impact from a major hurricane in over 100 years.
After making landfall, Milton may still maintain hurricane strength as it tracks across central Florida toward the Atlantic. Fortunately, this path is likely to spare states further north that are still recovering from Helene, which claimed over 230 lives as it swept through Florida and up to the Carolinas.
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