October 9, 4 p.m.
Hurricane Milton is zeroing in on a landfall between the southern edge of Tampa Bay and Sarasota, Florida this evening. Winds are now at a category 3 level of 120 mph, and the the storm has grown in size with tropical storm force winds extending over 250 miles from the center. Numerous tornadoes also continue along the east coast of Florida.
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October 9, 12 p.m.
There has been another slight reduction in wind intensity with Milton but it is still coming in as a Cat 4 hurricane with 145 mph max sustained winds. Milton is expected to make landfall as a Cat 3 or 4 in the central Florida peninsula tonight.
October 9, 9:00 a.m.
A slight reduction in wind intensity Wednesday morning as Milton gets closer to Florida’s Gulf coast. Milton is still a powerful and dangerous storm packing winds of 155 mph. The system is still expected to lose wind intensity during the day Wednesday as it encounters dry air and increased shear, and is expected to remain a major hurricane late Wednesday or early Thursday morning. Life-threatening storm surge, winds, and flooding rains will be possible.
Elsewhere, Hurricane Leslie continues to track northwest in the open Atlantic, and is expected to briefly strengthen before weakening as it turns northeastward later this week. No direct impacts to land are expected.
