Category 4 Hurricane Milton storm surge pushes in on Florida’s Gulf Coast ahead of catastrophic landfall

Hurricane Milton storm surge begins overwhelming Florida’s Gulf Coast

Tropical-storm-force winds are moving onshore on the west coast of Florida on Wednesday afternoon as storm surge has begun overwhelming beaches in Fort Myers and Naples. FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross breaks down the latest from Milton’s forecast and track.

Hurricane Milton is hours away from its expected catastrophic landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast late Wednesday night, but a potentially deadly storm surge from the monster Category 4 is already inundating shores after outer bands spawned a potentially deadly tornado outbreak.

Conditions are deteriorating on Wednesday afternoon as the hurricane continues its potentially life-threatening assault. The time to prepare and evacuate is essentially over as the storm sits more than 100 miles off Florida’s southwestern coast.

Tropical-storm-force winds are now moving onshore on the west coast of Florida as the outer bands have prompted dozens of Tornado Warnings across Central and South Florida.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton is growing in size as it approaches the west coast of Florida.

Landfall is expected between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning between 10 p.m. and 12 a.m. ET.

Millions of Florida residents have spent the last several days preparing for the potentially historic storm’s onslaught, making sure hurricane kits are stocked, boarding up homes and businesses, and making sure gas tanks are full ahead of the impending disaster.

Tens of thousands of people living along Florida’s coast or in other low-lying, flood-prone areas have also been told to flee in what has been called the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that so far about 31,000 people have taken refuge in one of the state’s 149 general population shelters, and there’s room for at least 200,000 people.

DeSantis, at the time, said road conditions were still safe, and residents were encouraged to get to a shelter before conditions became treacherous, but as the hurricane inches closer and bands of torrential rain and severe weather sweep in, time is running out.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg was closed in both directions due to the deteriorating conditions. Officials also said the Howard Frankland Bridge, the westbound Gandy Bridge and westbound Courtney Campbell were also closed to traffic.

Hours before landfall, Florida Highway Patrol troopers reported flooding in areas around Tampa Bay.

And for those who have not heeded evacuation orders and plan to ride out the storm at home, officials have offered stern warnings.

“I’ve said many times that you want to pick a fight with Mother Nature, she’s winning 100 percent of the time,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said on Tuesday. “And individuals that are in these, say you’re in a single-story home. Twelve feet is above that house. So, if you’re in it, you know, basically that’s the coffin you’re in.”

As people escape the wrath of Hurricane Milton, officials are reminding people to not forget their pets.

A video shared by the Florida Highway Patrol in Tampa showed a terrified dog that had been left tied to a pole along Interstate 75 as the storm approached.

“Do NOT do this to your pets, please,” FHP said.