With Milton charging at Florida’s west coast as a powerful hurricane, several areas are under mandatory evacuation orders.
That means interstates and highways leading out of the state were already starting to clog Tuesday, and the situation will only get worse as Milton’s landfall nears. Florida’s Department of Transportation is urging residents in the storm’s path to evacuate as early as possible, as Milton’s outer rain bands will reach the state before the center of the storm hits land.
Amid those bands could lurk tornadoes, meteorologists have warned. To help people get out of harm’s way faster, Georgia’s Peach Pass announced that I-75′s south express lanes will be turned into northbound lanes.
There is still time to safely evacuate, but the window is narrowing. To further facilitate evacuations as #HurricaneMilton approaches FL, tolls in west & central florida as well as Alligator Alley and 595 Express have been suspended. ESU is also still in place along Eastbound I-4… pic.twitter.com/6zCT91hSdy
— FLORIDA DOT (@MyFDOT) October 8, 2024
The Category 5 storm — forecast to slightly weaken ahead of landfall — is expected to reach Florida’s coast near Tampa late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Here are some key things to know if you or your loved ones are trying to escape the storm’s path.