In a hurry? Here's what you need toknow about Hurricane Milton in less than a minute.Want more details?
Florida residents are finalizing preparations ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton.
Schools around the state starting closing Monday and many have announced they'll be closed today, Wednesday and Thursday ahead of and immediately after the storm's anticipated landfall.
➤Spaghetti models for Hurricane Milton
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Hurricane Milton shocked residents and officials alike Monday when sustained winds jumped to 180 mph, well above the 157-mph threshold of a Category 5 storm. While it weakened as expected Tuesday morning, the National Hurricane Center warned Milton "poses an extremely serious threat to Florida."
Of particular concern with Milton is storm surge, which historically causes more deaths than winds. Storm surge in Tampa Bay is expected to reach 10 to 15 feet.
Here's the latest on what's happening with Milton, along with a current list of schools closed this week.
Hurricane Milton: See latest spaghetti models
Special note about spaghetti models:Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
Hurricane Milton's projected path, strength
51 Florida counties under state of emergency
Counties under a state of emergency are: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia counties.
Florida schools closing ahead of Hurricane Milton
The Florida Department of Education has listed schools are closed or will be closed in the following counties:
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024
- Brevard County Schools (Early Release)
- Charlotte County Schools
- Citrus County Schools
- Collier County Schools
- DeSoto County Schools
- Glades County Schools
- Hardee County Schools
- Hendry County Schools
- Hernando County Schools
- Highlands County Schools
- Hillsborough County Schools
- Indian River County Schools
- Lake County Schools
- Lee County Schools
- Levy County Schools
- Manatee County Schools
- Okeechobee County Schools
- Osceola County Schools
- Pasco County Schools
- Pinellas County Schools
- Polk County Schools
- Sarasota County Schools
- Seminole County Schools (Early Release)
- St. Lucie County Schools
- Sumter County Schools
- Volusia County Schools (Early Release)
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024
- A.D. Henderson University School
- Alachua County Schools
- Bradford County Schools
- Brevard County Schools
- Broward County Schools
- Charlotte County Schools
- Citrus County Schools
- Collier County Schools
- DeSoto County Schools
- Dixie County Schools
- Duval County Schools
- Flagler County Schools
- Florida Atlantic University High School
- Gilchrist County Schools
- Glades County Schools
- Hardee County Schools
- Hendry County Schools
- Hernando County Schools
- Highlands County Schools
- Hillsborough County Schools
- Indian River County Schools
- Lake County Schools
- Lee County Schools
- Levy County Schools
- Manatee County Schools
- Marion County Schools
- Martin County Schools
- Miami-Dade County Schools
- Nassau County Schools
- Okeechobee County Schools
- Orange County Schools
- Osceola County Schools
- Palm Beach County Schools
- Pasco County Schools
- Pinellas County Schools
- Polk County Schools
- Putnam County Schools
- Sarasota County Schools
- Seminole County Schools
- St. Johns County Schools
- St. Lucie County Schools
- Sumter County Schools
- Volusia County Schools
Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024
- A.D. Henderson University School
- Alachua County Schools
- Bradford County Schools
- Brevard County Schools
- Broward County Schools
- Charlotte County Schools
- Collier County Schools
- DeSoto County Schools
- Dixie County Schools
- Duval County Schools
- Flagler County Schools
- Florida Atlantic University High School
- Gilchrist County Schools
- Glades County Schools
- Hardee County Schools
- Hendry County Schools
- Hernando County Schools
- Highlands County Schools
- Indian River County Schools
- Lake County Schools
- Lee County Schools
- Marion County Schools
- Martin County Schools
- Nassau County Schools
- Okeechobee County Schools
- Orange County Schools
- Osceola County Schools
- Palm Beach County Schools
- Pasco County Schools
- Polk County Schools
- Putnam County Schools
- Seminole County Schools
- St. Lucie County Schools
- St. Johns County Schools
- Sumter County Schools
- Volusia County Schools
Friday, Oct. 11
- Bradford County Schools
- Duval County Schools
- Flagler County Schools
- Hernando County Schools
- Pasco County Schools
- St. Johns County Schools
Florida colleges closed for Hurricane Milton
Tuesday, Oct. 8
- College of Central Florida
- Daytona State College
- Eastern Florida State College
- Florida SouthWestern State College
- Hillsborough Community College
- Indian River State College
- Lake-Sumter State College (4:00 p.m.)
- Miami-Dade College (5:00 p.m.)
- Palm Beach State College (Remote)
- Pasco-Hernando State College
- Polk State College
- Seminole State College (12:00 p.m.)
- South Florida State College
- St. Petersburg College
- State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
- Valencia College
Wednesday, Oct. 9
- Broward College
- College of Central Florida
- Daytona State College
- Eastern Florida State College
- Florida SouthWestern State College
- Florida State College at Jacksonville
- Hillsborough Community College
- Indian River State College
- Lake-Sumter State College
- Miami-Dade College
- Palm Beach State College
- Pasco-Hernando State College
- Polk State College
- Santa Fe College
- Seminole State College
- South Florida State College
- St. Johns River State College
- St. Petersburg College
- State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
- Valencia College
Thursday, Oct. 10
- Broward College
- College of Central Florida
- Daytona State College
- Eastern Florida State College
- Florida State College at Jacksonville
- Hillsborough Community College
- Indian River State College
- Lake-Sumter State College
- Pasco-Hernando State College
- Polk State College
- Santa Fe College
- Seminole State College
- South Florida State College
- St. Johns River State College
- St. Petersburg College
- State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
- Valencia College
Friday, Oct. 11
- Daytona State College
- Florida SouthWestern State College
- Florida State College at Jacksonville
- Hillsborough Community College
- Pasco-Hernando State College
- Polk State College
- Seminole State College
- South Florida State College
- St. Johns River State College
- State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
Saturday, Oct. 12
- State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
Sunday, Oct. 13
- State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
Florida universities closed for Hurricane Milton
Tuesday, Oct. 8
- Florida A&M University (Jacksonville, Brooksville, Tampa, Orlando and Miami-Davie Satellite Campuses)
- Florida Atlantic University (5:00 p.m.)
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida InternationalUniversity (5:00 p.m.)
- Florida Polytechnic University
- Florida State University (Ringling Campus)
- New College of Florida
- University of Central Florida
- University of South Florida
Wednesday, Oct. 9
- Florida A&M University (Jacksonville, Brooksville, Tampa, Orlando and Miami-Davie Satellite Campuses)
- Florida Atlantic University
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida InternationalUniversity
- Florida Polytechnic University
- Florida State University (Ringling Campus)
- New College of Florida
- University of Central Florida
- University of Florida
- University of North Florida
- University of South Florida
Thursday, Oct. 10
- Florida A&M University (Jacksonville, Brooksville, Tampa, Orlando and Miami-Davie Satellite Campuses)
- Florida Atlantic University
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida Polytechnic University
- Florida State University (Ringling Campus)
- New College of Florida
- University of Central Florida
- University of Florida
- University of South Florida
Friday, Oct. 11
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- New College of Florida
- University of South Florida (Remote)
Excessive rainfall forecast
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(This story was updated to add new information.)
