Current:Home > MyTropical Storm Milton could hit Florida as a major hurricane midweek-LoTradeCoin
Tropical Storm Milton could hit Florida as a major hurricane midweek
View Date:2024-12-23 20:23:15
MIAMI (AP) — People across Florida were given notice Sunday that Milton, for now just a tropical storm off the coast of Mexico, could intensify rapidly into a major hurricane before slamming midweek into the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast.
Tropical Storm Milton’s center was about 860 miles (1,385 kilometers) west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, early Sunday, heading east at 5 mph (7 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph), the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
“Milton is moving slowly but is expected to strengthen rapidly,” the center said. “There is increasing confidence that a powerful hurricane with life-threatening hazards will be affecting portions of the Florida west coast around the middle of this week.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 35 counties ahead of the storm’s potential landfall. Since many of those counties are still recovering from Hurricane Helene, DeSantis asked the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Transportation to coordinate all available resources and personnel to supplement local communities as they expedite debris removal.
The hurricane center said Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys and the northwestern Bahamas should monitor the system’s progress. Heavy rainfall was expected Sunday ahead of the storm itself, and will likely then combine with Milton’s rainfall to flood waterways and streets in Florida, where forecasters said up to a foot (30 centimeters) of rain could fall in places through Wednesday night.
“There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday. Residents in these areas should ensure they have their hurricane plan in place, follow any advice given by local officials, and check back for updates to the forecast,” the center said.
The Atlantic hurricane season has become more active as rescuers in the U.S. Southeast continue to search for people unaccounted for in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which left a huge trail of death and catastrophic damage from Florida into the Appalachian mountains.
Hurricane Kirk diminished to a Category 2 hurricane in the open Atlantic early, with top winds of 105 mph (165 kph), sending large swells and “life-threatening surf and rip current conditions” to Bermuda and northward along the U.S. and Canadian coasts, the center said. Hurricane Leslie also was moving northwest over the open Atlantic, with top winds of 85 mph (140 kph) but posing no threats to land.
veryGood! (47)
Related
- Worker trapped under rubble after construction accident in Kentucky
- Stevie Wonder pays tribute to Tony Bennett at Grammys: 'I'm going to miss you forever'
- Super Bowl media day: Everything to know about Super Bowl opening night
- Céline Dion Makes Rare Public Appearance at 2024 Grammys Amid Health Battle
- The 15 quickest pickup trucks MotorTrend has ever tested
- Celine Dion's surprise Grammys appearance gets standing ovation amid health battle
- See King Charles III Make First Public Appearance Since Hospital Release
- Jury to get manslaughter case against Michigan school shooter’s mother
- Agents search home of ex-lieutenant facing scrutiny as police probe leak of school shooting evidence
- A Tesla plunged into frigid water in Norway. The motorists were rescued by a floating sauna as their car sank.
Ranking
- Georgia public universities and colleges see enrollment rise by 6%
- Here’s how 2 sentences in the Constitution rose from obscurity to ensnare Donald Trump
- Beyoncé shies away from limelight, Taylor Swift fangirls: What you didn’t see on TV at the Grammys
- Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf defeat John McEnroe, Maria Sharapova in Pickleball Slam 2
- Voters in California city reject measure allowing noncitizens to vote in local races
- Celine Dion's surprise Grammys appearance gets standing ovation amid health battle
- East Palestine Residents Worry About Safety A Year After Devastating Train Derailment
- These are the largest Black-owned businesses in America
Recommendation
-
Jared Goff stats: Lions QB throws career-high 5 INTs in SNF win over Texans
-
Could a nearby 'super Earth' have conditions to support life? Astronomers hope to find out
-
Father of Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes arrested in Texas on suspicion of drunk driving
-
Report: Ohio State offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien likely to become Boston College coach
-
NFL MVP rankings: Does Steelers QB Russell Wilson deserve any consideration?
-
Andy Cohen Breaks Silence on Kandi Burruss' Shocking Real Housewives of Atlanta Departure
-
Danger in the water: Fatal attacks, bites from sharks rose in 2023. Surfers bitten the most.
-
2024 Pro Bowl Games winners, losers: NFC dominates skills challenges, Manning bro fatigue