Live

Hurricane Milton tracker: Milton strengthens to Category 5 storm with 175 mph winds

Hurricane Milton is forecast to make landfall in Florida late Wednesday night.

ByKevin Shalvey and Emily Shapiro
Last Updated: October 7, 2024, 4:15 PM EDT

Hurricane Milton strengthened to a Category 5 storm on Monday as it takes aim at Florida's west coast.

Landfall is expected as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

Milton is closing in as Floridians are still recovering from the devastation unleashed by Hurricane Helene.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
3 hours ago

DeSantis refuses call from Harris ahead of Hurricane Milton

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has refused to take a call from Vice President Kamala Harris about Hurricane Milton because his team believes the call is politically motivated, according to a source close to the governor.

DeSantis staffers also said the governor has not spoken to President Joe Biden in at least the last few days.

An American flag fly's upside down, the international sign for distress, at a home ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall in the middle of this week in Treasure Island, Fla., Oct. 7, 2024.
Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images

The governor did speak with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on Sunday, and federal officials are continuing to work with state emergency managers to prepare for Hurricane Milton’s landfall.

DeSantis' refusal to take Harris' call was first reported by NBC News.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that the administration is still working with state and local officials to make sure that teams are pre-positioned ahead of Milton’s landfall.

-ABC News’ Will McDuffie and Jay O’Brien

2:04 PM EDT

Disney World remains open

Walt Disney World Resort is currently open and operating as normal.

"We are closely monitoring the path of the projected storm as we continue to prioritize the safety of our Guests and Cast Members," the resort said on its website.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

-ABC News’ Yi-Jin Yu

1:53 PM EDT

Counties issue mandatory evacuation orders

Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in parts of counties along Florida's west coast, including in Charlotte, Citrus, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee and Pasco.

Salvage workers remove debris from Hurricane Helene flooding along the Gulf of Mexico before Milton arrives, Clearwater Beach, Fla., Oct. 7, 2024.
Chris O'Meara/AP

"If you live in a storm surge evacuation zone and you're asked to leave by your local officials, please do that," Michael Brennan, the director of NOAA's national hurricane center, told ABC News Live on Sunday. "You don't have to drive hundreds of miles to get to a safe place, often just tens of miles to get inland, out of that evacuation zone, to a shelter, a friend or loved one's home."

Brennan also urged Floridians to prepare a disaster kit with several days’ worth of nonperishable food, water, medicine and batteries.

A resident boards up his windows ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected mid-week landfall, in Palm Harbor, Fla., Oct. 6, 2024.
Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images

1:44 PM EDT

Milton strengthens to Category 5 hurricane

Milton rapidly intensified to a Category 5 hurricane late Monday morning. By Monday afternoon, Milton exploded with strength, reaching 175 mph winds.

Within hours, Milton strengthened to a Category 2, then a Category 3, then a Category 4 and finally a Category 5.

Related Topics