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How to Track Powerful Hurricane Milton as It Heads for Florida

The dangerous storm is set to make landfall along Florida's west coast Wednesday night. Here's how to follow its path and stay updated on weather warnings.

Headshot of Amanda Kooser
Headshot of Amanda Kooser
Amanda Kooser
Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET. When not wallowing in weird gear and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto.
Amanda Kooser
2 min read
Thick rounded clouds of Hurricane Milton as seen from space.

A camera on the International Space Station snapped a look at Hurricane Milton.

 NASA

Hurricane Milton is a monster storm, and it's on track to make landfall on Florida's west coast on Wednesday night. The hurricane has churned between a Category 4 and a Category 5, but its exact strength at arrival isn't the main thing at this point: It's powerful and it's set to bring a huge storm surge, flooding, and high winds to the area. Check the following resources for tracking Hurricane Milton as it makes its way through the Gulf of Mexico. 

Read more: How to Send Satellite Text Messages When You Have No Phone Service

Many communities along the coast have already issued evacuation orders. You can check your address on the Florida Division of Emergency Management evacuation zones map and check with local officials for instructions. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a Hurricane Milton resources page to connect residents with disaster response.

National Hurricane Center

Map of the Atlantic with hurricanes marked in red.
Enlarge Image
Map of the Atlantic with hurricanes marked in red.

The National Hurricane Center's map shows active storms in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.

 NOAA National Hurricane Center/Screenshot by Amanda Kooser/CNET

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Hurricane Center is a clearinghouse for detailed information on Hurricane Milton. Check in for the latest public advisories, wind arrival times and estimates of Milton's path. The NHC also posts key messages on X and on Facebook.

NOAA live hurricane tracker

Satellite view of Florida and Hurricane Milton nearing the coast.
Enlarge Image
Satellite view of Florida and Hurricane Milton nearing the coast.

NOAA's live hurricane tracker site shows Milton as seen from the satellite view.

 NOAA

NOAA's live hurricane tracker provides a satellite view of the hurricane. Be sure to enable the map scroll feature and zoom in for a detailed look at Milton's location.

PBS NewsHour live hurricane tracker

PBS is running a YouTube livestream with radar data from Hurricane Milton and live views from cameras in Florida, including streams from Clearwater Beach and St. Petersburg.

WFLA News Channel 8

Tampa WFLA chief meteorologist Jeff Berardelli is giving live updates on Milton. Check in for commentary and analysis along with storm-tracking. WFLA also runs a "live wobble tracker" that follows Milton's shifting path in real time. Small shifts can make big changes in impacts along the coast.

The time for preparations is short if you're in the path. Here are tips for keeping your home safe during a hurricane.