TIMELINE: Hurricane Milton weakens after slamming Central Florida

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ORLANDO, Fla. — Meteorologists in Severe Weather Center 9 are tracking Milton as it passes through Florida.

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See the latest updates below:

2:46 p.m. update:

Now Post Tropical Cyclone Milton with winds of 75mph, continuing to move away from Central Florida.

Tropical storm warnings will be canceled for Volusia and Brevard counties.

It will remain in effect for Flagler County.

1:45 p.m. update:

Volusia County officials said two deaths have been confirmed after Hurricane Milton made landfall.

1 :30 p.m. update:

Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a news conference Thursday afternoon to share updates on Hurricane Milton.

DeSantis will hold the press conference in Sarasota at 2:45 p.m.

DeSantis will be joined by:

  • Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie
  • FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell
  • Major General John D. Haas Adjutant General of Florida

12:36 p.m. update:

Several crews are working to reopen the Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport after closing for Hurricane Milton.

Officials said both airports were impacted by powerful wind gusts and rain overnight.

Both airports remain closed Thursday to commercial and private passenger operations.

Airport leaders said they are working to determine when both airports can reopen.

Passengers should not come to the airport. All curbs will be blocked until the airport officially opens.

11:46 a.m. update:

Hurricane Milton continues to weaken as it moves away from Central Florida.

Milton is still a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds around 80 mph.

Hurricane Milton: AdventHealth Centra Care providing free urgent care video visits

Coastal hurricane warnings in Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard counties have been canceled and replaced by tropical storm warnings.

Interior tropical storm warnings have been canceled and replaced by wind advisories.

Wind gusts are still expected to reach 30 to 40 mph for many throughout the afternoon.

11:04 a.m. update:

Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, where it knocked out power to more than 3 million customers and whipped up a barrage of tornadoes.

The storm caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit.

Read: Hurricane Milton plows across Florida, pounding cities and whipping up tornadoes

The system tracked to the south in the final hours and made landfall late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm in Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa. Damage was widespread, and water levels may continue to rise for days, but Gov. Ron DeSantis said it was not “the worst-case scenario.”

10:14 a.m. update:

Police in Orange City are warning drivers after large holes opened up under roadways in the city.

Officers said Threadgill Road was closed Thursday morning in both directions.

Both directions of South Volusia Avenue were also closed at Treemonte Drive.

Police are warning residents to stay indoors as they assess damage left behind by Milton.

Officers said many roads are flooded, trees and power lines are down, and roadways are completely washed out.

Read: More than 3 million without power as Hurricane Milton slams Florida, causes deaths and flooding

9:24 a.m. update:

The City of Bunnell has issued a “stay in place” order for people as Hurricane Milton moves out of Florida.

City leaders say several roads are flooded in the core of Bunnell, making them impassible and hazardous.

Officials are asking people to not drive in flooded areas and around barricades.

City leaders are also asking residents to limit their water use as storm water systems are dealing with floodwaters from the hurricane.

8:34 a.m. update:

Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a news conference Thursday morning to share updates on Hurricane Milton.

Watch DeSantis’ full news conference here:

7:44 a.m. update:

Heavy winds and rain pounded Volusia County beaches Wednesday morning as Hurricane Milton moved off the east coast of Florida.

Watch: Volusia County pounded by dangerous winds as Hurricane Milton moves away from Florida

Channel 9 reporter Sam Martello is in Daytona Beach, where a curfew is in place to keep residents safe.

The area has historically seen major damage to the coast and buildings as major storms like Milton roll through.

6:54 a.m. update:

Orange County Fire Rescue shared a video Thursday morning of crews working to keep the community safe.

Officials said rescues are now underway in the Edgewater and Winter Park areas.

Orange County Fire Rescue says its crew are working tirelessly to respond to water rescue emergencies.

6:04 a.m. update:

Hurricane Milton knocked out power across a large section of Florida, with more than 3 million homes and businesses without power as of early Thursday, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports.

Read: More than 3 million without power as Hurricane Milton slams Florida, causes deaths and flooding

Before Milton even made landfall, tornadoes were touching down across the state. The Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce, on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, was hit particularly hard, with homes destroyed and some residents killed.

At a news conference in Tallahassee, Gov. Ron DeSantis described deployment of a wide range of resources, including 9,000 National Guard members from Florida and other states; over 50,000 utility workers from as far as California; and highway patrol cars with sirens to escort gasoline tankers to replenish supplies so people could fill up their tanks before evacuating.

5:14 a.m. update:

Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Wednesday morning to share the latest on the state’s response to Hurricane Milton.

DeSantis is planning to speak around 8:30 a.m. from the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee.

Watch DeSantis’ full Tuesday evening update here:

Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, Florida Wildlife and Conservation Commission Director Roger Young, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Florida State Guard Director Colonel Mark Thieme, Major General John D. Haas Adjutant General of Florida will join DeSantis at the event.

Channel 9 will have live coverage of DeSantis’ press conference on WFTV.

4:24 a.m. update:

Hurricane Milton continues to produce strong winds across Central Florida.

The center of the hurricane is near Cape Canaveral and will soon move off the east coast.

Milton has maximum sustained winds around 90 mph and is moving east-northeast at 16 mph.

1:30 p.m. update

Flash flood warning extended for parts of Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties until 6 a.m.


1 a.m. update:

Meteorologist David Heckard said Milton has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane as it continues to severely impact much of Central Florida.

In the last hour, an 86 mph gust was recorded at Orlando International Airport, and an 85 mph gust at Daytona Beach International Airport.

Hurricane-force wind gusts and flooding rains will continue across much of the area.

Read: How to listen to coverage from WFTV’s Severe Weather Team

The worst weather in Metro Orlando will be between now and 4 a.m., with the worst weather continuing across the east coast of Florida through Thursday.

Flash Flooding remains a major concern for the next few hours, with 8-14″ of rain likely.

If you lose power, you can listen to Channel 9 storm coverage of WDBO AM 580 and 107.3 FM.

Read: Hurricane Milton: How to stay informed if your power goes out

Previous story:

Meteorologist David Heckard said Milton continues to produce intense winds and flooding rains across Central Florida.

TIMELINE: Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Siesta Key, barrels through Central Florida

Sixty-70 mph wind gusts have now overspread to the majority of the area, and wind gusts will continue to increase.

The worst weather in Metro Orlando looks to be between now and 4 am, with the worst weather continuing across the east coast of Florida through of the day Thursday.

Flash flooding remains a major concern the next few hours, with 8-14″ of rain likely.

If you lose power, you can listen with Channel 9 storm coverage of WDBO AM 580 and 107.3 FM.

Read: Channel 9 brings you closer to Hurricane Milton’s impact across Florida

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