Hurricane Milton's Eyewall Hits Florida's West Coast With Life-Threatening Conditions
**(LIVE UPDATES: Milton's Impacts, Reports, and More)**
**Current Status:** As of 8 p.m. EDT, Hurricane Milton has slightly weakened to a Category 3 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. The hurricane is located approximately 20 miles west-southwest of Sarasota and is moving east-northeast at 15 mph.
Heavy rain bands with extreme wind gusts are spreading across Florida, as illustrated in the radar snapshot below.
An "extreme wind warning" is currently in effect for parts of the Tampa Bay area. Tornado-like conditions are anticipated in the coming hours; residents are advised to seek shelter in the innermost dry room of their homes, as being outside poses a significant risk. Wind gusts in this region could exceed 100 mph.
A tornado watch is also in effect for the southern half of the Florida Peninsula until 9 p.m. EDT, impacting Miami, Tampa Bay, and Fort Myers. Multiple tornadoes have been reported in southern Florida since this morning.
**Wind and Water Levels:** Hurricane-force winds have begun to impact Florida's west coast, with gusts reported at 96 mph in Sarasota, 90 mph in Venice, and 89 mph in St. Petersburg. Water levels have surged by over 8 feet near Sarasota, while storm surge measurements of 2-5 feet have been recorded from Naples to Charlotte Harbor, with further inundation expected in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
**Alerts in Effect:** Hurricane warnings cover a large portion of central Florida, extending from the Gulf to the Atlantic, including the Tampa Bay area, Fort Myers, Orlando, Cape Canaveral, and Daytona Beach. These warnings indicate that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected by Wednesday evening into early Thursday.
Tropical storm watches and warnings have been issued for various regions in Florida, southeast Georgia, southeast South Carolina, and southern North Carolina, as shown in the accompanying map.
A storm surge warning is in effect along Florida's Gulf Coast from Flamingo to Yankeetown, encompassing Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. Additionally, parts of the Atlantic coastline, from Sebastian Inlet to Altamaha Sound in Georgia, are under a storm surge warning, including the St. Johns River area.
This indicates that life-threatening water rises from storm surge are anticipated late Wednesday into Thursday.
**Forecast Timing and Intensity:** Milton is expected to gradually weaken as it interacts with land and encounters increasing wind shear. However, it may still remain a major hurricane at landfall tonight.
It's crucial to understand that this weakening does not lessen the potential impacts of Milton, including storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall. As the hurricane moves over Florida, it is projected to expand in size, extending its wind, storm surge, and rainfall effects across a larger area both within and outside its forecast cone.
In summary, do not let your guard down. Despite potential weakening, Hurricane Milton continues to pose a severe threat to Florida.
### Impact Forecast
**Storm Surge:**
The National Hurricane Center has updated its forecast, predicting storm surge levels could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level along the west-central Florida Gulf Coast from Boca Grande to Anna Maria Island, with Charlotte Harbor possibly experiencing surge levels up to 8 to 12 feet.
Storm surge will be most destructive near and south of the storm's center as it makes landfall.
The surge is expected to build throughout the day and likely peak tonight into early Thursday.
Additionally, some storm surge could affect parts of Florida's east coast, as well as coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina, due to winds pushing water onshore as Milton passes through Wednesday night into Thursday.
Please note that adjustments to the storm surge forecast may be necessary based on Milton's precise track.
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