Cheryl McCloud,Kim LucianiUSA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
In a hurry? Here's what you need toknow about Hurricane Milton in less than a minute.Want more details?
Hurricane Milton is rapidly intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico, as Florida residents from Jacksonville to Naples scramble to prepare for a hit from a major hurricane.
Milton has been rapidly intensifying Monday. By 2 p.m. it was a powerful Category 5 storm with 175-mph sustained winds.
➤Spaghetti models for Hurricane Milton
➤Weather alerts via text:Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location
Of particular concern with Milton is storm surge, which historically causes more deaths than winds.
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
Sunday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded the number of counties under a state of emergency, saying, "Milton will be at or near a catastrophic major hurricane upon landfall along the Florida West Coast, accompanied by life-threatening storm surge and severe wind gusts for the Florida Gulf Coast.
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
Tropical Storm Milton: Plywood popular at North Naples Home Depot
A Home Depot worker retrieves more plywood Oct. 6, 2024, at the Pine Ridge Road store in North Naples, Florida.
As of Monday morning, the Florida Department of Education has listed schools are closed in the following counties:
Monday, Oct. 7:
- Charlotte County Schools
- Collier County Schools
- DeSoto County Schools
- Hillsborough County Schools
- Lee County Schools
- Manatee County Schools
- Pasco County Schools
- Pinellas County Schools
- Sarasota County Schools
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
- Volusia County Schools (Early Release)
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Gilchrist 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
Monday, Oct. 7
- Florida SouthWestern State College
- St. Petersburg College
- State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
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.)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Monday, Oct. 7
- Florida A&M University (Jacksonville, Brooksville, Tampa, Orlando and Miami-Davie Satellite Campuses)
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida State University (Ringling Campus)
- New College of Florida
- University of South Florida
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 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 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
Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text
What's next?
We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for ourspecial subscription offers here.
