TAMPA – The first Hurricane Watches have been placed along the west coast of Florida as millions of people in the region prepare for the dangerous impacts of Hurricane Milton, including life-threatening storm surge, devastating winds and flooding rain.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Florida’s Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee to the mouth of the Suwanee River, including Tampa Bay.

A Storm Surge Watch was also issued for Florida’s Gulf Coast from Flamingo north to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay.

Tropical Storm Watches have also been issued for Florida’s Gulf Coast.

“Milton is rapidly intensifying,” the National Hurricane Center wrote Sunday evening. “Satellite images indicate very deep convection in the eye wall and that an eye is beginning to appear.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials held a news conference Sunday morning and said evacuations are likely, and time is running out to prepare for the hurricane’s potentially deadly impact.

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“I urge Floridians to complete your storm preparations now; implement your plan,” said Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “I strongly encourage you to evacuate. We are preparing, and I have the State Emergency Response Team preparing, for the largest evacuation we have probably seen since Hurricane Irma of 2017.”

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.

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The situation has developed rapidly, with forecasters from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) labeling the storm as Tropical Depression Fourteen early Saturday morning, and hours later issuing a special warning announcing the development of Tropical Storm Milton. About 24 hours later, Milton strengthened into a hurricane early Sunday afternoon.

According to the latest advisory from the NHC, Milton is expected to continue to intensify rapidly, reaching Category 4 strength on Tuesday before weakening slightly on Wednesday ahead of landfall in Florida. However, forecasters warn that Milton will still likely hit Florida as a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher).

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Gov. Ron DeSantis declares a state of emergency before Milton

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for dozens of counties on Saturday, but as the forecast for Hurricane Milton began to grow dire, he amended that order to include 51 of the state’s 67 counties.

“This allows government officials to operate without the constraints of bureaucracy, making critical resources available to communities ahead of potential storm impacts,” DeSantis said Sunday.

As residents continue to prepare for the potentially deadly consequences of Hurricane Milton, the state is also “preparing for the worst while hoping for the best.”

Customers check mostly empty bread shelves at a retail warehouse in Kissimmee, Florida, on October 6, 2024. Florida residents rushed to grab last-minute supplies after the governor declared a state of emergency as forecasters warned the US state was still reeling from deadly Hurricane Helene. could be hit by another major storm. Hurricane Milton has strengthened significantly as it heads towards the Florida coast, and is expected to make landfall by mid-week. (Photo by Gregg Newton / AFP) (Photo by GREGG NEWTON/AFP via Getty Images)

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DeSantis said the state has already sent high water rescue vehicles to Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, and more resources will be sent to counties at risk of seeing the effects of Hurricane Milton.

“The Florida National Guard, additional FDOT Florida State Guard personnel and the Florida Highway Patrol have been activated and deployed to assist with debris removal and provide logistical support to local entities,” DeSantis said.

There are currently more than 800 guards deployed to remove debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and DeSantis said up to 4,000 guards will soon be available for time-sensitive debris removal.

Evacuations ordered, schools closed

As the effects of Hurricane Milton approach Florida, officials have begun ordering evacuations and closing schools so people have time to prepare and get away from the coast and other low-lying areas.

DeSantis and Guthrie urged people to know if they are in an evacuation zone and be prepared to take action.

“Know your evacuation zone,” DeSantis warned. “There will be voluntary and mandatory evacuations in effect in a number of communities throughout the state of Florida. If you are on the west coast of Florida and the barrier islands, please assume that you will likely be called to evacuate.”

Some evacuations have also been ordered for parts of Pinellas and Manatee counties, with more expected.

Additionally, schools in the region, including those in Southwest and Central Florida, have decided to close this week due to the expected hurricane.

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What’s the latest on Hurricane Milton?

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Hurricane Milton is located more than 750 miles (1,230 kilometers) west-southwest of Tampa, Florida, and has maximum sustained winds of 93 miles (150 km) per hour, making it a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.

Milton departs east at a speed of 7 miles per hour.

Where are watches and warnings in effect due to Hurricane Milton?

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There are no alerts or warnings in effect for the continental US. However, the National Hurricane Center said Storm Surge and Hurricane Watches will likely be issued Sunday evening or early Monday for parts of Florida.

The government of Mexico has issued a hurricane warning for the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, from Celestun to Cabo Catoche, and a tropical storm warning from eastern Cabo Catoche to Cancun.

Where will Hurricane Milton go?

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The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Milton is moving east, and general movement is expected to continue.

Then, an east-to-east-northeast movement is forecast on Monday, followed by a faster movement to the northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On that track, Hurricane Milton is expected to move north of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, then cross the Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula on Wednesday.

“While it is too early to specify the exact magnitude and location of the largest impacts, there is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning early Wednesday,” the NHC said. .