Hurricane Milton is approaching Florida’s west coast, threatening the Tampa Bay area—home to more than 3.3 million residents—with potential widespread destruction. A major hurricane has not directly struck the region in more than a century.
Milton was about 100 miles southwest of Tampa Bay—with wind speeds of up to 125 mph—meeting the guidelines for a Category 3, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) update at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday. Earlier this week, it reached Category 5 strength over the Gulf Coast.
Forecasters expect the storm to weaken before reaching Tampa Bay on Wednesday evening but it could still inflict substantial damage. As the storm intensifies, its effects are likely to be felt across much of the Florida Peninsula.
Watch live footage of Milton’s path through Tampa Bay and across Florida right here on Newsweek, as we bring you up-to-the-minute coverage of this major storm’s impact.
Downtown Tampa (Hillsborough County)
The urban core of Tampa, along the Hillsborough River and Tampa Bay, serves as a major business and cultural center in the region.
Madeira Beach (Pinellas County)
The coastal city west of St. Petersburg, known for its sandy beaches and proximity to John’s Pass Village, is a popular area for fishing and water activities.
Clearwater Beach (Pinellas County)
The beach town on a barrier island west of Clearwater features white-sand beaches, a lively pier and a beachfront filled with shops and restaurants.
Siesta Key (Sarasota County)
The barrier island off the coast of Sarasota is famous for its powdery white quartz sand beaches and beautiful sunsets.
Fort Myers (Lee County)
Sitting along Florida’s southwest coast, Fort Myers is known for its historical landmarks and access to nearby islands like Sanibel and Captiva.
Pine Island (Lee County)
The large, rural island just west of Cape Coral and Fort Myers is known for fishing communities, nature preserves and agricultural landscapes.
EarthCam Live (Several Locations)
Livestreaming footage from various locations, offering real-time visuals of Hurricane Milton’s impact across the Florida Peninsula. It captures views from coastal areas, highlighting the storm’s intensity as it nears land.
The NHC is predicting that Milton could drop up to 18 inches of rain on Tampa over the next couple of days, with surrounding areas experiencing 6 to 12 inches. The National Weather Service said in its forecast that combined with “the Category 3-4 winds, this amount of rain is expected to overwhelm any soils and rivers very quickly and thus convert to runoff.”
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