Officials in Florida are preparing for the possible evacuation of more than 6 million residents as another major hurricane threatens to make landfall less than two weeks after the state took a direct hit from Hurricane Helene.
Milton strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with 80-mph winds Sunday, and is expected to make landfall along Florida’s west coast as a possible Category 3 storm on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.
Milton could cause coastal flooding and possibly inundate Tampa Bay with 10 feet of water. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday that efforts to clean up debris from Hurricane Helene are now a race against the clock. Milton’s flooding is expected to hit a more populated area than where Helene came ashore.
“From the entire time I’ve been governor, you look at different scenarios, and probably the scenario that was one that is challenging in terms of the damage, would be a major hurricane going into Tampa Bay, just because it’s so vulnerable,” DeSantis said. “When you’re talking about Tampa Bay, and you talk about what even 10 feet of storm surge would do ... the greater Tampa Bay area is millions of people.”
Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said that millions of people will have to evacuate in the next few days: “I have the state emergency response team preparing for the largest evacuation that we have seen — most likely — since 2017’s Hurricane Irma.” That storm led to the evacuation of more than 6.8 million people.
Forecasters say it’s possible Milton could hit drier air that would limit its growth. A National Hurricane Center report on Sunday said residents should monitor the system and listen to local officials.
Kate McManus ✉
Kate McManus is a New Jersey-based Newsmax writer who's spent more than two decades as a journalist.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.