Hurricane Milton’s interactive tracker reveals a path of destruction as it barrels toward Florida

Hurricane Milton continues to gain strength Tuesday as it passes Cancun, sustaining winds of up to 155 miles per hour on its collision course with Florida.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) described the severe Category 5 storm as “potentially catastrophic” for communities along Florida’s western coast. Trackers predict Milton will plow northeast before turning sharply east toward Tampa.

Tampa Bay and surrounding communities are preparing for storm surges of up to 15 feet high that will cause flooding inland as residents try to flee amid traffic congestion.

Across Florida counties caught in Milton’s northeastern path, rainfall is expected to reach two to four inches, with some regions likely to see as much as three to six inches.

Weather data visualization company Ventusky is actively synthesizing meteorological data to map and predict the path of Hurricane Milton via their tracker below.

These heavy rains are expected to cause flash flooding, slow and more persistent ‘surface’ flooding, overwhelmed storm drainage systems and ‘moderate to major river flooding’, the World Meteorological Organization said.

Milton stunned forecasters with its ability to go from a tropical depression or cyclone – with no more than 60 km/h winds – to a potentially record-breaking and deadly Category 5 hurricane in less than three days.

NHC officials noted there are signs the hurricane could weaken as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, downgrading to a still punishing Category 3 before making landfall on Wednesday.

“Although fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane as it makes landfall in Florida,” the NHC warned.

Cities along Florida’s west coast, from Spring Hill in the north to Cape Coral in the south, including Tampa, St. Petersburg and Venice, are all poised to take the worst effects of Hurricane Milton as it moves through the state on Wednesday rages.

But Florida’s east coast, as well as parts of Georgia and South Carolina, will also face risks, according to the center’s meteorologists.

“Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area on the east coast of Florida on Wednesday evening and along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina on Thursday,” NHC officials said.

Before and during the hurricane, turbulent wind patterns are even expected to produce a few tornadoes “over Central and South Florida, beginning late tonight and continuing through Wednesday evening,” the center’s experts advised.

The worst impact of Hurricane Milton, based on Ventusky’s modeling, will continue into the early morning hours Thursday, with the eye of the storm barreling through central Florida before passing over the East Coast sometime after 5 a.m.

Tampa is particularly vulnerable to the devastating effects of hurricanes, meaning Milton could be particularly deadly and costly to this quiet central Florida metro area – according to Dr. Steven Godby, a natural hazards expert at the School of Animal, Rural and Environmental from Nottingham Trent University. Sciences in Great Britain.

“Tampa has long been considered the most vulnerable urban area in the United States to storm surge flooding.” Dr. Godby explained to DailyMail.com.

The highest point in Tampa is only 45 feet high, and this combination of the city’s low elevation and dense population and infrastructure increases the risks of hurricane damage, Dr. Godby said.

“Direct hurricane strikes on the west coast of Florida are rare,” he added. ‘(but) the last major hurricane (Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale) to hit the Tampa Bay region made landfall on October 25, 1921, producing a storm surge of 10 to 12 feet and winds of 115 miles (185 km). /u those losses that would amount to $180 million today.”

“With Hurricane Milton bearing down on Tampa, it is worth noting that the population at the time was approximately 160,000 and has now grown to more than three million,” he continued, “many living on land less than ten feet (9 .84 feet) above sea level. .’

“Large numbers of homes, schools, government buildings and critical infrastructure are at risk of flooding and wind damage,” he warned.

Florida residents seeking assistance are urged to call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557 and/or the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.