Major Hurricane Milton: Live Blog

Welcome to our Major Hurricane Milton live blog, with regular updates from Moody's RMS Event Response team and Moody's experts -check back for the latest insights.

Tuesday, October 8: 1030 UTC

Sarah Hartley and James Cosgrove from Moody's RMS Event Response have just published a blog entitled "Stark Warnings for Major Hurricane Milton" as Florida county and state officials issue dire warnings about the incoming major hurricane and its potential impact on Florida.

With less than 48 hours until a potential landfall, preparations for the storm are well underway, with State of Emergency declarations and evacuation orders in place, for an evacuation that could be as large as for Hurricane Irma in 2017. On the current status of Major Hurricane Milton, and its prospects for the days ahead, Sarah and James stated:

Milton is expected to encounter strong vertical wind shear and dry air entrainment on its approach to the Florida Gulf Coast and is expected to weaken slightly as it nears landfall, but is it still currently forecast to make landfall as a powerful Category 3 major hurricane on the west coast of Florida late local time on Wednesday, October 9. The exact timing, location, and intensity at landfall remains uncertain.

Damaging hurricane-force winds are expected to impact the west coast of Florida near where the center makes landfall and crosses the Peninsula, and a life-threatening storm surge could occur along portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula, especially in areas to the south of the where the center makes landfall. Debris and damaged structures from Helene, and clear-up operations will be vulnerable.

Read their full blog here.