Hurricane Milton updates: 16 dead across Florida in storm's aftermath

Milton forced millions to evacuate and left widespread destruction.

ByKevin Shalvey, Emily Shapiro, David Brennan, Julia Reinstein, Leah Sarnoff, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: October 11, 2024, 11:28 PM EDT

At least 16 people have died from Hurricane Milton, which roared onshore on Florida's west coast as a Category 3 hurricane, bringing tornadoes, powerful winds and flooding rains. The monster storm forced millions to evacuate and left widespread destruction across Florida.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Oct 08, 2024, 9:10 AM EDT

DeSantis: Use today to finalize and execute your safety plan

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday urged Floridians to "use today as your day to finalize and execute the plan that is going to protect you and your family" from Hurricane Milton.

Landfall is expected around 11 p.m. Wednesday and the Tampa Bay area is forecast to face a record-breaking storm surge of 10 to 15 feet.

Local residents form a long line in the rain before the opening of a shopping warehouse ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected mid-week landfall in Kissimmee, Fla., Oct. 7, 2024.
Gregg Newton/AFP via Getty Images

About 1,200 truckloads of debris left by Hurricane Helene have been removed over the last 24 hours, and that removal will continue until it’s no longer safe to do so, DeSantis said.

The governor said 37,000 linemen are either in Florida or on the way to help with power outages.

Twenty-seven fuel trucks were escorted by Florida Highway Patrol overnight to help gas stations running out of fuel, he said.

A view of a gas station that ran out of fuel as Hurricane Milton approaches, in Tampa, Fla., Oct. 6, 2024.
Octavio Jones/Reuters

-ABC News’ Darren Reynolds

Oct 08, 2024, 11:30 AM EDT

Tracking Milton: Latest forecast

Milton is now a Category 4 hurricane and its outer bands will start lashing Florida's west coast by Wednesday morning.

This weather map shows the forecast path of Hurricane Milton through Friday morning.
ABC News

Landfall is expected around 11 p.m. Wednesday between St. Petersburg and Sarasota, possibly as a Category 3 hurricane.

Tampa Bay is forecast to face a record-breaking storm surge of 10 to 15 feet.

This weather map shows the storm surge for Hurricane Milton.
ABC News

Storm surge in Fort Myers could reach 6 to 10 feet.

As Milton moves over Florida, winds ahead of the system could push storm surge up to 5 feet in Jacksonville and up to 4 feet in Savannah.

Wind gusts could climb over 130 mph in the St. Petersburg area.

Up to 18 inches of rain is possible by the end of the storm.

-ABC News’ Max Golembo

Oct 08, 2024, 2:38 AM EDT

Milton becomes 'powerful' Category 4 storm

Hurricane Milton's maximum sustained winds were at about 155 mph early Tuesday, classifying the storm as a "powerful" Category 4 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said.

A satellite image shows whirlwind formation of Hurricane Milton, Oct. 7, 2024, in this screen grab obtained from a handout video.
Csu/cira & Noaa/CSU/CIRA & NOAA via Reuters

"While fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida," the center said in a 1 a.m. ET update.

-ABC News' Jessica Gorman

Oct 08, 2024, 12:39 AM EDT

Hurricane Milton still Category 5, but winds slow to 165 mph

As of its 11 p.m. ET update, the National Hurricane Center said that Hurricane Milton now has wind speeds of 165 mph, slowing down by 15 mph from earlier Monday.

The storm still poses an "extremely serious threat" to Florida, the NHC said.

ABC News
ABC News

It's currently moving toward the Northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, per the NHC.

It is still forecast by the NHC to weaken to a Category 3 before making landfall late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

-ABC News Senior Meteorologist Melissa Griffin

Related Topics