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Hurricane Milton tracker: 'This is a matter of life and death'

Milton is expected to make landfall Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane.

ByKevin Shalvey, Emily Shapiro, and David Brennan
Last Updated: October 9, 2024, 4:04 PM EDT

Hurricane Milton, now a Category 3 hurricane, has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.

Milton will make landfall on Florida's west coast Wednesday night, likely as a Category 3 hurricane. The state is bracing for life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flooding rain.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Oct 9, 4:03 pm

Tracking Milton: Latest forecast

Tropical storm-force winds are moving on shore on Florida's west coast Wednesday afternoon.

Milton is forecast to make landfall between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Wednesday near Sarasota, south of Tampa, as a Category 3 hurricane.

Strong wind gusts over 100 mph are forecast for the Tampa area during the landfall.

This weather map shows the predicted path of Hurricane Milton across Florida through Thursday.
ABC News

A dangerous, record-breaking storm surge of up to 12 feet is expected for Tampa Bay and Fort Myers. Storm surge could reach a life-threatening 15 feet near Sarasota.

Heavy rain -- up to 18 inches -- is expected to inundate parts of central Florida, bringing a high risk of flash flooding.

-ABC News' Max Golembo and Melissa Griffin

2 hours ago

Biden slams Trump for 'onslaught of lies' during hurricane response

President Joe Biden is urging Floridians to take this "storm of the century" seriously.

For those in the Tampa area, Vice President Kamala Harris added, "This is a storm that is expected to be of historic proportion. … It's going to be more dangerous, more deadly and more catastrophic. So please listen to your local officials."

Waves crash along St. Pete Pier in St. Petersburg, Florida, as Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall tonight, Oct. 9, 2024.
Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images

"If you are told to evacuate, please evacuate immediately. Do not wait until it is too late," she said during a briefing on Wednesday.

Biden called out former President Donald Trump by name for leading the "onslaught of lies" and misinformation about the administration’s response to Hurricane Helene.

He criticized the "reckless, irresponsible, and relentless promotion of disinformation" that’s been spreading since Helene struck the Southeast, adding that it’s "undermining confidence" of rescue and recovery teams and "harmful" to those who "need help the most."

Landfall for Hurricane Milton is expected late Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane.
38:52

Biden, Harris give update on Hurricane Milton

Landfall for Hurricane Milton is expected late Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane.
ABCNews.com

-ABC News’ Justin Ryan Gomez

12:34 PM EDT

'This is a matter of life and death,' Tampa mayor warns

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warned Wednesday that "the window for evacuation is closing," stressing, "This is a matter of life and death."

"This is going to be a storm of historic proportions," she said.

"The roads look pretty clear right now, so you don’t have to go far," Castor said. "Just get out of the way of that storm surge."

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says "time is of the essence" as Hurricane Milton nears landfall.
8:29

Tampa mayor gives final warning to those in evacuation zones

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says "time is of the essence" as Hurricane Milton nears landfall.
ABCNews.com

-ABC News’ Jason Volack

12:17 PM EDT

Milton response won't impact Helene recovery efforts: FEMA

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell stressed that the response to Hurricane Milton in Florida will not impact the ongoing recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene across the Southeast.

Tampa prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Milton members of the National Guard put up a flood barrier around a waste water facility on Oct. 9, 2024 in Tampa, Fla.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

"These resource movements are not taking away from the ongoing complicated response and recovery we are still working in the aftermath of Helene," Criswell said.

She said FEMA has distributed "over $60 million from our individual assistance program directly to people here in North Carolina" impacted by Helene.

"This is incredible, meaningful progress, and we at FEMA stand ready to both continue this critical work while we respond to Hurricane Milton in the coming days," she said.

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle

11:27 AM EDT

'The roads are flowing and shelters have space,' DeSantis says

Fifty-one out of Florida’s 67 counties are under a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Milton, which has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday urged residents in evacuation zones -- particularly in Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties -- to evacuate now.

"The roads are flowing and shelters have space. There’s still time," he said.

Cars drive during heavy rainfall as Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 9, 2024.
Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

About 31,000 people stayed in shelters across Florida Tuesday night and the shelters can accommodate over 200,000 people, according to Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

"If you think it’s too late, there is room," Guthrie said. "Your home can be replaced, but you cannot."

DeSantis announced the largest staging of utility workers in U.S. history, with over 50,000 linemen ready to restore power as soon as the storm passes.

-ABC News’ Jason Volack

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