According to the latest hurricane report from the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, Hurricane Milton weakened to a Category 4 hurricane on the morning of October 8. Milton has maximum sustained winds of about 250 km/h and is located 136 km northeast of Progreso, Mexico.
The latest storm of the Atlantic hurricane season is moving east-northeast at 12 mph and is about 560 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Earlier, on the afternoon of October 7, the US National Hurricane Center said that Milton exploded, increasing to a category 5 super storm.
Hurricane Milton could be downgraded to a Category 3 storm before it makes landfall on the west coast of Florida on October 9, NBC News forecasters said.
According to CNN's latest storm report, Hurricane Milton remains a Category 4 storm but is expected to strengthen to a Category 5 storm on October 8 and remain so through October 8. Milton is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 storm late on October 9.
"Milton has the potential to become one of the most destructive hurricanes on record in west-central Florida. Milton remains a relatively compact storm, but the storm's wind field is expected to continue to increase in size as it approaches Florida. In fact, official forecasts show the storm's winds doubling by the time of landfall," the latest hurricane forecast from the US National Hurricane Center noted.
The Hurricane Center notes that Milton is completing its eyewall replacement cycle, meaning the process of reintensifying to a Category 5 superstorm will begin soon.
The storm circulation replacement cycle is common in major hurricanes (Category 3 and above). During this cycle, a large storm circulation on the outside of the storm develops and dominates as the inner storm circulation shrinks and dissipates. This results in a slight weakening of the storm, but also tends to increase the size of the storm. As the outer storm circulation begins to tighten, the storm may re-strengthen.
Data on the evolution of Super Hurricane Milton shows that Milton is joining the group of one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history, including Hurricane Milton's rapid upgrade from Tropical Depression No. 14 to Super Hurricane Category 5 in less than 3 days.
Tampa Bay hasn't been directly hit by a major hurricane since 1921. President Joe Biden has approved a state of emergency for Florida. About 7,000 federal workers have been mobilized to help in one of the largest federal mobilizations in history, according to the AP.
Warning of the severe impact of Hurricane Milton, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor stressed: "If you want to confront Mother Nature, she will 100% win."
Earlier this week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the state was working around the clock to clear debris and downed trees from Hurricane Helene ahead of Hurricane Milton's landfall to minimize the threat of flying objects. Florida state leaders said Milton is expected to make landfall in Hillsborough or Pinellas counties by the evening of October 9. A state of emergency has been declared in 51 Florida counties.
