Just over a week after Hurricane Helene brought massive destruction across the Southeastern United States, Tropical Storm Milton is beginning to form near Mexico, heading toward Florida.
The latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center, released at 4 a.m. Central Time on Sunday, said that Milton will quickly intensify as it moves eastward and northeastward, making landfall in Florida as a Tropical Cyclone on Wednesday.
As of Sunday morning, the center of the tropical storm has maximum wind speeds of 50 mph and is moving east at 5 mph. By Monday, winds are forecast to increase to between 74 and 110 miles per hour, and by Tuesday, have winds in excess of 110 miles per hour.
The forecast path will cross Florida east to west, centering on Tampa Bay, with the edge of the storm crossing southeastern Alabama, southern Georgia, southeastern South Carolina, and southeastern North Carolina.
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There is a risk of life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts late Tuesday and Wednesday. Residents of affected areas in Florida have been warned to have a hurricane plan ready.
From Sunday and Monday, heavy rainfall is forecast ahead of Milton’s landfall, with a risk of flash flooding.
The National Hurricane Center has warned that the earliest practical time to expect Tropical force winds is Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Florida’s west coast.
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Governor Declares State of Emergency
On Saturday night, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 35 counties: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia.
DeSantis wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he had directed Florida’s Division of Emergency Management and Department of Transportation to coordinate all available personnel and resources to help with debris removal.
“We will continue staging state assets to prepare for efficient search and rescue, power restoration, and roadway clearing.”
Destruction Left by Hurricane Helene
The storm comes only a week after Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction through Florida, Georgia, and Appalachia.
The Category 4 event unleashed strong winds, heavy rain, and mudslides, cutting off power to millions and leaving communities reeling in its aftermath. The death toll has now reached 227, according to The Associated Press.
North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama all had major disasters declared.
Helene made landfall late Thursday night about 10 miles west of Perry, Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm had maximum sustained winds of around 140 mph.
It brought life-threatening storm surges, devastating winds and torrential rain to the area, which contributed to excessive flooding across several Florida cities.
After it made landfall and moved further inland, the massive storm brought severe flooding across North Carolina.
Rain has been so severe in Asheville in the west of the state that it caused the Swannanoa River to crest at 26.6 feet after rising 19 feet in roughly 20 hours. The river, which is currently 10 feet above the level needed to be classified as at a major flood stage, has not surpassed 26 feet since 1791.
