COLUMBUS, Ohio — Fearful Florida residents streamed out of the Tampa Bay region Tuesday ahead of what could be a once-in-a-century direct hit from Hurricane Milton.
Milton strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, just two weeks after Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.
The path of Milton shifted a bit south Tuesday night toward Sarasota, which is south of Tampa Bay.
The region has been able to avoid being directly hit by a major hurricane for more than 100 years. The storm is projected to hit as a Category 4 with wind speeds up to 130 mph.
Most areas will see 6 to 10 inches of rain with surges up to 15 feet as the storm is projected to make landfall late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
Traffic was thick Tuesday as people fled the Tampa area ahead of Milton. As they evacuated, crews along the coast hurried to clear Helene's debris so that Milton doesn't turn it into dangerous projectiles.
Gov. Mike DeWine activated the Ohio National Guard to support the state of Florida in anticipation of the hurricane. The team will consist of more than three dozen members of the Ohio National Guard.
Interactive Milton radar
There is no central Ohio impact with this storm. Once Milton hits the Tampa area, it will go straight over the Orlando area and exit Florida by Thursday evening.