The Latest: Hurricane Milton Takes Aim Near Tampa Bay, Florida, Once Again a Category 5 Storm
Hurricane Milton remains a ferocious storm that could land a once-in-a-century direct hit on Tampa and St. Petersburg, engulfing the populous region with towering storm surges and turning debris from Helene’s devastation 12 days ago into projectiles. While the storm had previously weakened, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Tuesday that Hurricane Milton was once again a Category 5 storm. Here’s the latest: Hurricane Milton picks up lateral speed as it moves toward Florida MIAMI — Hurricane Milton's wind speeds have slightly decreased, but it remains a Category 5 storm, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center's most recent advisory. The storm has maximum sustained wind speeds of 160 mph (260 kph). As of 11 p.m. EDT Tuesday, it was 405 miles (650 kilometers) southwest of Tampa, Florida. It has picked up lateral speed, moving toward Florida at 12 mph (19 kph), and the hurricane center said it was expected to travel more quickly overnight into Wednesday. Milton was expected to make landfall late Wednesday night on Florida's west coast near Tampa, but forecasters said “it is critical to remember that even at 24 hours out, it is still not possible to pinpoint an an exact landfall location.” Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center urged residents to evacuate or make other preparations by the end of Tuesday. “Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida,” the hurricane center said.