Hurricane Milton strengthens to a Category 4 severe storm, Hurricane Watch issued for Florida Gulf Coast

TAMPA, Fla. – Florida's Gulf Coast is under a hurricane and storm surge watch as Hurricane Milton continues to gain strength and develop into a severe Category 4 storm in the Gulf of Mexico.

As of 9 a.m. Monday, Hurricane Milton was located at 21.7N, 92.0W.

It was a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour and moving east-southeast at a speed of 8 miles per hour.

Hurricane Milton strengthened into a severe Category 4 storm Monday morning and is expected to continue to strengthen before developing wind shear over the Gulf of Mexico. Landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast is expected on Wednesday.

According to the National Hurricane Center, wind shear will cause Milton to weaken before landfall late Wednesday. It could remain a major hurricane if it makes landfall, which will happen on the west coast of Florida.

Before Milton, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 51 Florida counties, including all counties in the Tampa Bay Area.

Clocks and Alerts

Hurricane Milton: County-by-County Guide

A hurricane warning is in effect for Florida's Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee to the mouth of the Suwanee River, including Tampa Bay.

Much of Florida's Gulf Coast is under a hurricane watch.

A storm surge warning was also issued for Florida's Gulf Coast from Flamingo north to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay.

Much of Florida's Gulf Coast is under a storm surge watch ahead of Milton.

Tropical storm watches were also issued for Florida's Gulf Coast.

A flood warning is in effect for the entire Tampa Bay area, most of Central Florida and all of South Florida.

The entire Tampa Bay area is under a flood watch through Thursday morning, as are much of Central Florida and all of South Florida.

When will the impact be felt in the Bay Area?

Hurricane Milton: Mandatory evacuations begin in the Tampa Bay Area

Some areas will see heavy rain Monday and Tuesday, which FOX 13 meteorologists say is not directly related to Milton.

Rain from Milton is likely to arrive on Wednesday and continue into Thursday before the storm dissipates.

Hurricane Milton is expected to have a significant impact on the Tampa Bay area, with several inches of widespread rain expected.

Depending on the exact path Milton takes, the heaviest rainfall is expected to come south from the I-4 corridor, with several inches – even up to a foot in some areas – likely over the next week.

Hurricane Milton: Bay Area schools closed due to storm

As for other significant impacts like wind and life-threatening storm surge, FOX 13 meteorologist Dave Osterberg says the point of landfall will be crucial in determining where Milton will feel the worst.

Models are divided on exactly where Hurricane Milton will make landfall, but all agree it will happen on Florida's Gulf Coast.

“While we have some answers today, we don’t have others,” Osterberg said. “What I can’t answer is where exactly it will make landfall and how much it will weaken before it makes landfall.”

FOX 13 Chief Meteorologist Paul Dellegatto warns that even if Milton weakens before landfall, it will not weaken the storm surge. The greatest increase will occur at the land point to the south.

Bay Area coastal sections could face a storm surge of 8 to 12 feet, with the point where they make landfall to the south could be the worst affected by the storm surge.

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