Oct. 9
Hurricane Milton has a wind speed of 145 mph. The storm is moving 17 mph as it is approaching Tampa.
Landfall is expected around 11 p.m. tonight.
Tornados have touched down on I-75 in South Florida earlier today. Majority of the state is under tornado watch as Miltons wind starts to affect land.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, the Gandy Bridge and the Howard Frankland Bridge is closed in both directions as of today.
The National Hurricane Center said the peak surge if occurring during high tide in Tampa will be 8 to 12 ft.
Oct. 7
Hillsborough County has issued mandatory evacuation orders for zones A and B and for all mobile homes.
UTampa is in evacuation zone A, meaning students must leave campus.
Tampa International Airport will stop flights at 9 a.m. Tuesday and reopen when safe.
The City of Tampa expects a peak storm surge of 8-12 f.t.
Milton is now a category 4 hurricane. It has windspeeds of 150 mph. and is moving eight mph.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press conference, at the State of Emergency Operations Center, that the state of Florida is preparing for Milton.
He said he signed an executive order to keep debris sites open 24/7 to get the damages from Helene off the streets.
“These debris sites need to be open and we will ensure that to do. In the last 24 hours, the state has done 500 truckloads of debris totaling 9,000 cubic yards,” said DeSantis.
He has suspended all tolls in western and central Florida and Alligator Alley to help residents travel out of evacuation zones.
The state emergency response team said that people should evacuate today and have their preparations finalized.
DeSantis said the state is ready to deploy help before the storm hits.
“We have sent major truckloads of food and water to central Florida in preparations. We are also coordinating the deployment of more than 2,00 feet of flood protection systems,” he said.
More than 200 ambulances and more than 30 paratransits are in the central Florida footprint ready to help first responders DeSantis said.
The National Hurricane Center said Milton has intensified into a category 5 hurricane with wind speeds of 160 mph.
Oct. 6
Rain is expected to start today as the first round of moisture begins.
Milton is now a tropical storm and is moving five mph East, according to The National Hurricane Center.
UTampa sent out its first alert at 8:45 a.m. warning staff and students they are tracking the storm.
The email said, “It is expected to reach hurricane strength later today and continue strengthening on Thursday as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico.”
This information contradicts The National Hurricane Center and other news networks that project the storm as a hurricane before Wednesday’s landfall.
The university said it would run normal operations and look out for the next email at 7 p.m.
The university’s operation team will update the information to match the National Hurricane Center tracker.
The university’s new email alert said, “It is expected to reach hurricane strength later today and continue strengthening Monday and Tuesday as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico.”
All Hillsborough Schools are closed Mon-Wed along with other counties including Pinellas and Pasco.
In a press release, The City of Tampa said they are opening parking garages till Thursday free of charge to move cars to higher levels.
Locations include:
- Fort Brooke Garage- 107 N. Franklin St.
- Twiggs Street Garage- 901 E. Twiggs St.
- Centro Ybor Garage- 1500 E. 5th Ave.
- Palm Gernando Garage- 2010 N. 13th St.
- Pam Lorio Garage- 301 Channelside Dr.
- Whiting Garage- 118 S. Florida Ave.
- Tampa Convention Center Garage- 141 E. Brorein St.
- William F Poe Garage- 802 N. Ashley Dr.
The garages will resume normal operations after 5 p.m. on Thurs. Oct. 10th.
Travel advisories are in place from Oct. 8- Oct. 10th. Flights may he delayed, diverted, or canceled at the following airport locations- Fort Myers, Orlando, Sarasota and Tampa.
Milton has reached category 1 status as of 2 p.m. today with windspeeds of 80 mph.
10 Tampa Bay said Pinellas County is under mandatory evacuation for zones A-C. Parts of Manatee County are also under mandatory evacuation for zones A and B.
Anna Maria Island is under mandatory evacuation starting Monday.
Classes at UTampa are canceled and will resume on Thursday.
UTampa sent out an email to students that classes are canceled and plans for Thursday and Friday will go undetermined at this time.
The email mentions Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center may call for a mandatory evacuation starting tomorrow morning.
If evacuation is ordered, residence halls will be closed Tues. Oct. 8 at 9 a.m.
The university encourages staff and students to have evacuation plans in order and hurricane kits ready.
Oct. 5
TAMPA, Fla.– Tropical Depression 14 is rapidly intensifying in the Gulf. The depression will become a tropical storm by tomorrow and then quickly become Hurricane Milton.
The National Hurricane Center is predicting the hurricane will start affecting the west coast of Florida as early as Tuesday with landfall Wednesday.
Storm surge and strong winds are a concern with this potential category 2 or 3 hurricane. Hurricane Milton is expected to bring 110 mph wind speeds near Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Multiple news networks are urging residents to monitor this storm as it intensifies as a fast-moving hurricane.
The City of Tampa already has resources available. Free, self-service sandbag sites will open tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Himes Avenue Complex and Al Barnes Park. Residents are eligible for a maximum of 10 sandbags per vehicle. To receive the sand you must show ID or a utility bill verifying the county.
The City of Tampa emergency line has already sent out warnings about restocking emergency supply kits, preparing homes, and knowing evacuation zones.
Comfort stations have begun to close in preparation for the new hurricane.
To receive messages by email, phone, and text go to HCFL.gov/StaySafe.
UTampa has no plans for operational changes at this time but will post more updates on its weather page.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 35 counties.
The counties include: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter and Volusia.
Fox 13 said there is a flood watch in place until Oct. 10th.
For more information as the storm develops return to this article.
Last Updated Oct. 9 at 1:30 p.m.