Hurricane Milton – Update #4 – 10/7/24

University of Florida officials are actively monitoring Hurricane Milton, which is expected to affect the west coast of Florida by midweek. While the storm’s exact path remains unclear, here is what we know today:

Milton has rapidly intensified and is now a Category 5 hurricane. Western Alachua County is currently under a Tropical Storm Watch issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) as of its 11 a.m. advisory on Monday. There is also a Flood Watch in effect for all of Alachua County. Earlier this morning, the majority of the Florida Gulf Coast was placed under a Hurricane Watch or Warning, and forecasters anticipate that additional counties will be added to the watch/warning area.

The Hurricane Watch extends from the mouth of the Suwannee River, which is about 10 miles north of Cedar Key, to Chokoloskee in Collier County. This includes the Tampa Bay area.

The NHC reported Milton has shifted to the north in the latest track and projects the hurricane will strike the west coast of Florida Wednesday evening, with tropical storm force winds to begin as early as Wednesday morning across northeast Florida. Milton is expected to weaken slightly as it approaches Florida. However, it will still likely be a “large and powerful hurricane” come landfall.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Jacksonville expect Hurricane Milton to bring heavy rainfall to the Gainesville area, ranging between 6 and 8 inches.

All UF units statewide – especially in the west coast of Florida – should continue to closely monitor forecasts and follow guidance from local officials. Online students who live in the path of the storm beyond Alachua County should immediately contact their instructors to discuss whether special accommodations can be made.

Additionally, students, faculty and staff should prepare for the storm and review their emergency kit. Additional preparedness information is available at https://emergency.ufl.edu/get-ready.

The University of Florida will close its offices and cancel classes, including online classes, beginning at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9 and continuing through Thursday, Oct. 10. UF will continue to monitor and update all on expected impacts or operational changes as information becomes available.

Regularly check the UF homepage for updates. Any announcements regarding operational changes will be made through official UF channels, including the UF Alert Emergency Notification System.

For additional information, please visit the National Hurricane Center.

Additional information:
Here’s how to prepare for hurricane season
Pre-storm preparation for students in UF housing
UF/IFAS Disaster Preparation & Recovery

This update was posted on Oct. 7 at 2 p.m.