The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Hurricane Milton “has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record in central and central Florida.”
NHC provided its update late Monday ahead of Milton's eyewall replacement cycle, noting that the system would weaken but “grow” on Tuesday. The agency predicts Milton will encounter shear that could further weaken its strength on Wednesday, but it still predicts that “a large, powerful hurricane will make landfall in Florida, posing a life-threatening risk to coastlines and inland areas.” ” is predicted.
“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record in Midwest Florida, so Floridians should closely follow the instructions of local emergency management officials,” he added.
NHC Update at 11am ET I will confirm Milton is expected to “maintain major hurricane status and increase in size” as it approaches the west coast of Florida.
The NHC warns of storm surges of more than 10 feet high and “catastrophic hurricane-force winds” on Florida's west coast, which are “particularly gusty and expected to extend inland across the peninsula.” “It will happen,” he warns. Counties in the northeast, including St. John's, are currently under hurricane warnings.
The NHC also warned of heavy rains posing a risk of “life-threatening flash flooding”.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) also warned that this could be a worst-case scenario, writing on social media: “A few years ago, I asked @NHC_Atlantic what the worst storm to hit Florida would be. I asked him to show me what it was like.”
“What they showed me back then is pretty much the same as Milton's conjecture today,” he revealed.
These warnings are brought to you by countless Floridians evacuate Tampa Bay area where landfall is expected. Evacuation-induced traffic congestion in these areas, such as Interstate 75, has been so severe that the state is opening the shoulders to vehicular traffic.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor didn't mince words about the evacuation.
“I can say this without any dramatization: If you choose to remain in the evacuation zone, you will die,” she warned.
