Tropical Storm Milton upgraded to hurricane, barrels toward Florida

Tropical Storm Milton was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane connected Sunday day arsenic it roared crossed the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida.

Milton registered sustained winds astatine 80 mph and was expected to summation spot arsenic the week progressed portion it targeted Florida’s westbound coast, the National Hurricane Center said.

“I don’t deliberation there’s immoderate script wherever we don’t person large impacts astatine this point,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday. “If you’re connected that westbound seashore of Florida, obstruction islands, conscionable presume you’ll beryllium asked to leave.”

Milton was expected to summation successful spot aboriginal successful the week — astatine slightest to a Category 3 tempest — earlier making landfall astir Wednesday, according to the NHC. Exactly wherever the tempest would onslaught remained unclear Sunday, but DeSantis declared states of exigency successful 51 of Florida’s 67 counties.

Meteorologists predicted 5-8 inches of rainfall crossed the state, with immoderate areas seeing arsenic overmuch arsenic 12 inches from Sunday done Wednesday.

Additionally, the tempest was expected to kick up a important tempest surge connected Florida’s gulf coast, putting coastal communities astatine hazard of further flooding.

“You person clip to hole — each time today, each time Monday, astir apt each time Tuesday, to beryllium definite your hurricane preparedness program is successful place,” DeSantis said Sunday.

Many of the communities endangered by Milton were inactive recovering from Hurricane Helene, which made landfall Sept. 26 adjacent Perry, Fla., astir 160 miles northbound of Tampa.

While Helene brought its worst devastation to Appalachian communities successful North Carolina, it besides importantly affected parts of Florida that could beryllium successful Milton’s path.

“This is not a bully way for the authorities of Florida,” DeSantis said. “From an affectional position it’s tough. People bash get fatigued.”

As of Sunday afternoon, Milton was inactive overmuch person to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula than to Florida. The tempest was centered astir 815 miles west-southwest of Tampa, according to the NHC.

It was predicted to advancement westbound to eastbound crossed the Gulf during the week earlier moving retired to the Atlantic Ocean aft slamming Florida. Tropical storm-force winds extended 80 miles from the storm’s center, forecasters said.

With News Wire Services