Florida Braces for Milton

Hurricane Milton is set to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area this evening as a Category 3 storm with winds of 111-129 mph, the first major hurricane to hit the area in over 100 years. See a time-lapse video of Milton from space here (via X).

The region’s west-facing geographic location and typical weather patterns make direct hurricane landfalls less common but not impossible. The prevailing east-to-west trade winds often push storms originating in the Gulf of Mexico westward. The shallow continental shelf off the coast—up to 90 miles offshore with depths less than 300 feet—creates ideal conditions for large storm surges, essentially acting as a ramp allowing the water to build up as it approaches the shore.

The last major hurricane to directly hit the region was in 1921 when a Category 3 storm brought 110 mph winds and an 11-foot storm surge that caused severe damage, costing roughly $180M in 2024 dollars. Milton is expected to move across central Florida before entering the Atlantic Ocean.