Topline
Tropical Storm Milton is expected to become a major hurricane before it makes landfall on the Florida Peninsula Wednesday, possibly hitting Tampa Bay—less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene moved through Florida and caused devastating flooding across parts of the Southeastern U.S.
Relief aid sits at a distribution center early morning in Burnsville, North Carolina, October 5, 2024, after the passage of Hurricane Helene. (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
Milton is expected to “quickly intensify” as it moves northeast across the Gulf of Mexico,, according to the National Hurricane Center , which predicted the storm will be “at or near major hurricane strength” when it hits Florida and warned “there is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts” beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday.
Milton is forecast to become a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph before hitting Florida; tropical storms are classified as hurricanes when winds reach 74 mph and major hurricanes when winds exceed 110 mph.