Hurricane Milton projected path: Tracker, impacts and more l LIVE updates
FLORIDA - Hurricane Milton has strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane as the monster storm continues to spin across the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico on a path toward Florida, where it will bring the risk of life-threatening storm surge, destructive winds and flooding rain.
HURRICANE MILTON LATEST UPDATE: LOCATION l PATH l WARNINGS
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According to the National Hurricane Center, maximum sustained winds within Milton increased to 160 mph.
Satellite imagery of Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico, taken around 12:15 p.m. on Oct. 7. (via NOAA)
As the potentially deadly storm continues on its path toward Florida, millions of people across the region are preparing for life-threatening impacts such as a deadly storm surge, destructive winds and flooding rain.
While residents are preparing, thousands are also fleeing the coast as officials call for voluntary and mandatory evacuations ahead of the storm.
The rainfall forecast for Florida. (FOX Weather)
Here's everything you need to know about Hurricane Milton, including its location, projected path and watches/warnings in effect.
Milton trajectory: Where is the hurricane now?
Hurricane Milton is located more than 730 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, and has maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, making it a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Current info on Hurricane Milton. (FOX Weather)
Milton is moving off to the east-southeast at 9 mph.
Milton path update: What's the forecast?
The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Milton is moving off to the east-southeast, and that general motion is expected to continue through Monday night.
The forecast cone for Hurricane Milton. (FOX Weather)
After that, the NHC said Hurricane Milton should make a turn to the east and then northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Spaghetti forecast models for Hurricane Milton. (FOX Weather)
On that forecast track, Hurricane Milton is expected to move near or just north of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday, then cross the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by Wednesday.
Milton hurricane tracker: What watches, warnings are in effect?
Hurricane Watches, Tropical Storm Watches and Storm Surge Watches have all been issued along Florida’s Gulf Coast, and those are expected to be upgraded as the storm moves closer to the Sunshine State.
This graphic shows the storm surge forecast. (FOX Weather)
The Hurricane Watches were issued along Florida’s Gulf Coast from about the Cedar Key area southward to Naples, including Tampa and Fort Myers.
Tropical Storm Watches were also issued for the Florida Keys, as well as for Gulf Coast communities from Flamingo to south of Chokoloskee and from north of the Suwanee River to Indian Pass.
This graphic shows current watches and warnings in effect in Florida due to Hurricane Milton. (FOX Weather)
A Storm Surge Watch has also been issued along Florida's Gulf Coast, and that is in effect from Flamingo northward to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay.
This graphic shows storm surge alerts in effect in Florida because of Hurricane Milton. (FOX Weather)
The current storm surge forecast for Tampa Bay is between 8 and 12 feet if the peak surge coincides with high tide. This is notably higher than during Helene, when Tampa Bay saw 7-8 feet of storm surge.
Florida evacuation orders
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials held a news conference on Sunday and said evacuations are likely, and time is running out to prepare for the hurricane's potentially deadly impacts.
Tracking potential impacts from Milton. (FOX Weather)
"I urge Floridians to finalize your storm preparations now; enact your plan," Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said. "I highly encourage you to evacuate. We are preparing, and I have the State Emergency Response Team preparing, for the largest evacuation that we have seen most likely since 2017 Hurricane Irma."
If Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida, it will be the third to do so this season following the landfalls of Debby in August and Helene in September.
Hurricane categories
What is a Category 1 hurricane?
A hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 74-95 mph is considered to be a Category 1 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
A Category 1 storm is the weakest of all hurricanes but is stronger than a tropical storm.
What is a Category 2 hurricane?
A hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 96-110 mph is considered to be a Category 2 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
A Category 2 storm is stronger than a Category 1 and is just one status below what is considered to be a major hurricane.
What is a Category 3 hurricane?
A hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 111-129 mph is considered to be a Category 3 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Once a hurricane strengthens into Category 3 storm it is considered to be a major hurricane.
What is a Category 4 hurricane?
A hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130-156 mph is considered to be a Category 4 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
A Category 4 cyclone is considered to be a major hurricane and is only one class below a Category 5.
What is a Category 5 hurricane?
A hurricane with maximum sustained winds of at least 157 mph is considered to be a Category 5 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
A Category 5 is the strongest a hurricane can get on the scale, as there is not a Category 6 rating.
When does hurricane season end?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November. August, September and October are considered to be the peak months, with more than 85% of tropical systems forming during the three-month period.
Steven Yablonski, with FOX Weather, helped contribute to this report.