As of the latest 11 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Milton's wind speed has decreased to 160 mph. The storm is currently located approximately 405 miles southwest of Tampa and is moving to the northeast at a speed of 12 mph.
The NHC has issued a warning stating that Milton is expected to continue its northeastward motion with a slight increase in forward speed overnight through Wednesday. The forecast track indicates that the center of the storm will traverse the eastern Gulf of Mexico tonight and Wednesday, make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida on Wednesday night, and then move off the east coast of Florida into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday.
Despite the drop in wind speed, Milton is still anticipated to be a major hurricane at the time of landfall. The storm is forecasted to bring heavy rainfall and powerful winds across a significant portion of the Florida Peninsula. Additionally, the wind field of the storm is expected to expand significantly before landfall, amplifying its destructive impacts over a wide area.
Recent adjustments in Milton's path have caused a slight southward shift, leading to changes in the projected storm surge. The highest storm surge estimates now indicate potential surges ranging from 10 to 15 feet in areas such as Tampa Bay and from Egmont Key to Boca Grande.
