TAMPA, Fla. – Hurricane Milton has made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County. It moved inland as a Category 3 storm with maximum winds of 190 km/h. An extreme wind warning remains in effect around Tampa Bay as the northern eyewall moves through the area.

Milton will sustain maximum sustained winds of 125 mph as a Category 3 storm. Although the storm has weakened slightly today, it remains an extremely powerful and dangerous storm. It is moving northeast at a speed of 25 km/h.

Milton will continue to weaken as it moves through the state, but it is expected to remain a hurricane until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday.

Heavy rainfall and strong winds will continue tonight in Central Florida around and north of downtown Milton, while storm surge remains heaviest south of downtown Milton.

View all Bay Area alerts here | View the warnings for Central Florida here | Central Florida Power Outage Maps | Tampa Bay’s power outage maps

Remember that the largest wave (3 to 4 meters) will be south of the eye. Heavy rain and strong winds will occur north of the eye.

Winds will still be strong far from the center in all directions, with some gusts in the 130 to 180 km/h range even 50 to 60 kilometers away from the center.

Milton is steered by the current between a trough dug across the Gulf of Mexico and a ridge near the Greater Antilles. It will move eastward on Thursday.

Currently, hurricane winds extend 35 miles (56 kilometers) from the center and tropical storm force winds extend 250 miles (400 kilometers) from the center, mainly to the north. Milton’s wind field is expected to grow significantly in size by the time the center moves over Florida with a large area of ​​tropical storm and hurricane force winds. Damaging winds, life-threatening storm surges and heavy rainfall will extend well beyond the forecast cone.

The rainfall will bring the threat of flash flooding along with moderate to major river flooding.

The weather should improve quickly on Thursday afternoon.

Preparations to protect life and property and evacuations must be completed.

Expect extensive wind damage and power outages near the center of the storm.

The Tampa Bay area will be underwater through Thursday evening.

With cleanup and debris removal still underway along the West Coast, the impact of heavy rain, wind and storm surges would be greater.

ADVICE/WATCHES/WARNINGS

Hurricane Warnings in Tampa Bay: Pinellas, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, Manatee and Polk counties.

Hurricane Warnings in Central Florida: Marion, Sumter, Northern and Souther Lake, Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Volusia and Flagler counties.

Storm Surge Warning in Tampa Bay: Pinellas, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, Manatee and Hernando counties.

Storm Surge Warning in Central Florida: Brevard, Volusia and Flagler Counties.

TIMING FOR POTENTIAL IMPACT IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

Heavy rain, damaging winds and a risk of tornadoes will increase Wednesday night into Thursday morning before the storm moves off our East Coast late Thursday morning. Our East Coast beaches will likely experience rough surf and beach erosion through the end of the week.

Milton will leave the East Coast, but winds on the back of the storm will lead to storm surge and coastal flooding. Storm surge observations extend along our eastern seaboard.

Floods will be one of our main dangers. Highest precipitation totals will reach 8 to 12 inches, with locally higher totals possible along I-4 and northward.

Precipitation potential

River flooding

Heavy rainfall leads to high river levels and flooding potential. The following areas are under flood warnings.

RIVER FLOOD WARNING for Anclote River at Elfers off Little Road. Major flooding is forecast. This is approaching record high tides. At a height of 7.5 meters, houses in Anclote River Estates are flooded. The river is expected to rise above flood stage late tomorrow morning and continue to rise to a crest of 7.5 meters on Friday evening.

FLOOD WARNING now in effect from tonight through late Friday for the Manatee River at Rye Bridge. Moderate flooding is forecast. At a height of 3.5 meters, Water reaches the trackbed of the Old Rye Bridge. The river is expected to rise above flood stage to a crest of 4.0 meters late tomorrow evening. It will then fall below flood level by Friday afternoon.

FLOOD WARNING now in effect for Little Manatee River at Wimauma at US 301. Major Flood 20.0 feet. is predicted. This is approaching record high tides. The river is expected to rise above flood stage and continue to rise to a crest of 5.5 meters early Friday morning.

FLOOD WARNING now in effect for Peace River at Bartow. The river is expected to rise above flood level late tonight and rise further to 3.6 meters on Saturday morning. After that, further increases are possible. This is approaching record high tides.

FLOOD WARNING now in effect for the Manatee River at Rye Bridge. Moderate flooding is forecast. The river is expected to rise above flood stage early after midnight tomorrow afternoon, cresting at 12 feet.