Hurricane Milton Strengthens to Category 5 as NHC Cautions on Landfall Uncertainty

Hurricane Milton has surged back to Category 5 strength as it churns toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, with maximum sustained winds now reaching 165 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed the upgrade Tuesday afternoon, warning that while landfall is expected Wednesday night, there remains significant uncertainty about Milton’s precise path.

Despite several shifts in intensity over the past 24 hours, Milton is once again classified as an extremely dangerous storm. The NHC cautioned that even with the latest track projections, “additional wobbles” in the storm’s movement could alter its landfall location. “Forecasts can be off by an average of 60 nautical miles,” the NHC noted, emphasizing that pinpointing the exact point of impact remains difficult.

Evacuation orders have already been issued across Florida’s Gulf Coast, and shelters are open to accommodate those seeking refuge. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency and suspended tolls to expedite evacuations. “Your home can be rebuilt, but we cannot replace a life lost to the storm,” DeSantis urged residents in a statement Tuesday.

The Tampa Bay area, still reeling from Hurricane Helene just two weeks ago, could face up to 15 feet of storm surge from Milton. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor issued a stark warning during a CNN interview, stating, “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die.”

The storm’s wind field is expected to double in size as it approaches land, and although some weakening is possible before landfall, the NHC stressed that Milton will remain a life-threatening hurricane. The impacts of damaging winds, storm surge, and heavy rainfall will extend well beyond the forecast cone, meaning areas far from the storm’s core could still feel its effects.

After making landfall, Milton is forecasted to cross Florida and emerge over the Atlantic Ocean by Thursday. NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick shared breathtaking images of Milton from space, providing a sobering perspective on the storm’s size and power.

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