Hurricane Milton – Update #8 – 10/9/24

University of Florida officials are continuing to monitor Hurricane Milton, which is expected to begin affecting the west coast of Florida this evening. Here is what we know this morning:

Hurricane Milton is projected to make landfall sometime Wednesday evening on the west coast of Florida as a major hurricane capable of producing destructive and life-threatening winds that are the equivalent of a Category 3 storm, according to the 5 a.m. advisory of the National Hurricane Center.

Additionally, the latest advisory from the National Weather Service Center in Tampa said the center of the storm would come ashore likely between Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor tonight.

Meanwhile, a Tropical Storm Warning remained in effect for Alachua County, which includes the UF campus in Gainesville, as of the 5 a.m. advisory of the National Weather Service Center in Jacksonville.

Hurricane Milton is expected to affect the Gainesville area with sustained tropical storm-force winds ranging between 39 and 57 mph. Conditions in North Central Florida will be breezy in the morning but will begin to deteriorate by late afternoon. The storm’s peak impact is projected for tonight through Thursday.

While the threat of flooding rain has decreased since the previous advisories, a Flood Watch remains in effect for Alachua County. The latest rainfall projections range between 2 and 4 inches of rain, with the potential for localized flooding.

The Southwest Recreation Center in UF’s campus will open as a storm shelter today at 1 p.m. for UF students, faculty and staff, and their families. Students who live on campus should shelter in place within their residence hall and follow all housing staff instructions.

Additionally, UF offices are closed, and classes are canceled today and Thursday, Oct. 10. The university expects to communicate on Thursday regarding operational plans for Friday; however, the university currently expects to resume normal operations on Friday morning.

UF/IFAS and other UF personnel outside of Alachua County should adhere to their county government closures and consult their supervisors. Other UF units throughout the state will have similar closings in keeping with their county government guidelines.

UF Health hospitals and clinical practices are continuing normal operations in Alachua County. However, the operating hours of units throughout the state will vary. For up-to-date information about UF Health closures, visit UFHealth.org.

Any additional scheduling changes will be announced through official UF channels such as the UF home page and the UF Alert Emergency Notification System.

For additional information, please visit the National Hurricane Center.

Additional information:
Commonly asked questions regarding Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton UF campus services and events updates
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. 9 at 6:50 a.m.