Hurricane Milton weakened slightly overnight but is expected to make a turn Tuesday that will lead it toward the Gulf Coast of Florida as one of the most fearsome storms on record.

The hurricane was going through a common eyewall replacement cycle Tuesday morning that causes its peak winds to fluctuate but enlarges the storm’s size. Maximum sustained winds were recorded at 145 mph, making Milton a Category 4 hurricane.

Milton is expected to turn to the northeast and increase speed slightly today as it bears down on the Tampa Bay area Wednesday night, the National Hurricane Center said in an update at 5 a.m. 

The storm is expected to remain at hurricane strength as it crosses the state to the East Coast late Wednesday and into Thursday.

A hurricane warning was issued at 8 a.m. Tuesday for the East Coast of Florida from St. Lucie County north to Ponte Vedra Beach. The rest of Northeast Florida remained under a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning.

The National Weather Service in Jacksonville predicts strong to damaging wind gusts in Northeast Florida and southeast Georgia, especially over the St. Johns River Basin and Atlantic Coast. Conditions should begin to deteriorate Tuesday night with major impacts Wednesday afternoon through Thursday.

Five to 12 inches of rain is expected, with the highest amounts in St. Johns County. Winds are forecast at 39 to 57 mph in the Jacksonville area and 58 to 73 mph in St. Johns.

Milton exploded into a Category 5 hurricane Monday with winds of 180 mph. Only Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Felix in 2007 intensified as rapidly as Milton, the National Hurricane Center said.

Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said Florida is preparing for the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017. Highways out of the Tampa Bay area have been clogged with traffic since Monday.

Guthrie on Monday encouraged Gulf Coast residents to evacuate inland or to areas north like Jacksonville.

“If you are 100% going to need to be dependent on power, and you have the means to do so, you may want to consider a Jacksonville,” he said. “It’s likely that Jacksonville will not experience any type of power outage.”

JEA is preparing for outages nonetheless. The utility said Monday afternoon that it could take longer than usual to restore power because thousands of its utility crews remain in the Southeast after Hurricane Helene.

What does Milton mean for Jax area?

It’s too early to pinpoint the exact location Milton will make landfall. Minor fluctuations to the north or south of the current path will have large implications for Milton’s ultimate landfall and impacts.

Jacksonville lies outside the forecast cone as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, but shifts in the storm’s expected path are likely throughtout the day.

The cone represents the potential path of the storm’s center; it is not intended to represent all areas that could be affected. Damaging effects are possible well outside the cone.

Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 30 miles from the center of Milton at 5 a.m., and the storm was growing in size. Tropical storm-force winds extended outward up to 105 miles.

JEA said wind gusts could reach 70 mph in some areas of Jacksonville. The National Hurricane Center forecasts storm surge of 3 to 5 feet in Northeast Florida.

Heavy rainfall will pose a mounting threat for flash flooding this week. The Hurricane Center predicts at least a 40% chance of flash flooding along the First Coast.

Deteriorating coastal and marine conditions, including a high risk of rip currents along the Atlantic Coast, and tidal flooding are also expected, especially within the St. Johns River basin.

Already weakened trees and limbs from Helene could lead to additional tree damage, the forecast says.

See the latest forecast here.

Jacksonville

Mayor Donna Deegan said flooding and storm surge will be the main concerns during Hurricane Milton. Winds could be similar to Hurricane Helene, but flooding could be a bigger problem because the ground is already saturated, she said.

The city has not ordered evacuations, but residents in manufactured homes, older homes and low-lying areas, especially with a heavy tree canopy, are encouraged to find a safer location or shelter.

Shelters: The following shelters will open at 8 a.m. Wednesday:

• Atlantic Coast High School, 9735 R. G. Skinner Parkway, open for special medical needs, pet-friendly.
• Chaffee Trail Elementary, 11400 Sam Caruso Way,) open for general population.
• The Legends Center, 5130 Soutel Drive, open for general population and special medical needs, and pet-friendly.
• Landmark Middle, 101 Kernan Blvd., open for general population, pet-friendly.
• LaVilla School of the Arts, 501 N. Davis St., open for general population.
• Arlington Middle School, 8141 Lone Star Road, open for general population.

Schools: Duval County Public Schools announced they will close from Wednesday through Friday.

Parking: The following city-owned garages wil be open Downtown starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday through Friday at no charge:

• Water Street, 541 Water Street.
• Ed Ball Building, 238 W. Monroe St.
• Yates Building, 200 E. Adams St.
• Duval Street, 33 W. Duval St.

JTA also will also open its Kings Avenue Garage, at 1201 Kings Ave., for free.

JTA: JTA will continue regular operations Wednesday and Thursday as long as it is safe. The last trip for the St. johns River Ferry will be at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. As in the past, JTA will offer free rides to the city’s six shelters. It also will operate a shuttle from flood-prone Ken Knight Drive to the Legends Center starting Wednesday. Pickups will be every 15 to 30 minutes at the corner of Ken Knight Drive and Moncrief, Bus Stop No. 3991.

Garbage collection: Due to the volume of debris received from Hurricane Helene, some yard waste pickups are behind schedule. People are asked not to put any new storm debris on the curb at this time. Waste collection will remain on schedule Tuesday and as long as it’s safe on Wednesday. All collections will be suspended Thursday. Thursday collection for garbage and recycling will be rescheduled to Saturday. Friday collection is expected to occur as normal.

Power: JEA announced Sunday that it is continuing its suspension of disconnections for non-payment, begun after Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago, in light of the new storm.

To report power outages during Milton:

1. Visit jea.com/outage to view JEA’s Electric Outage Map and report an electric or water outage
2. Call (904) 665-6000 to use the automated system
3. Text OUT to 69532 (MyJEA)

Blood collection: LifeSouth Community Blood Centers and OneBlood are urging the community to give blood now to help prepare, as blood collections will be affected during and after the storm. Donating ensures blood will be available to help patients suffering from traumas, cancers and chronic illnesses. All blood types are needed, especially type O donors and platelet donors. 

For additional information, keep an eye on jaxready.com for updates from Duval County emergency managers.

Clay County

Clay County was preparing for flooding along Black Creek and the St. Johns River. No evacuations have been ordered, but people in low-lying areas and along Black Creek and the St. Johns were encouraged to relocate.

Shelters: Four shelters will open at 6 a.m. Wednesday:

• Orange Park High (pet friendly).
• Keystone Elementary (pet friendly). 
• Lake Asbury Junior High (special needs).
• Wilkinson Elementary.

Schools: Clay County schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday.

Garbage pickup: Garbage and yard waste collections will be picked up Tuesday. FCC Environmental Services, the county’s new trash company, will pick up bagged and containerized yard waste. Crews will run pickups on Wednesday as long as it’s safe. 

Sandbags: The county will offer sandbags from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Sandbags are limited to 10 per person and are first come, first served and DIY. Shovels are not provided.

The county will continue to offer bags until they are gone or if it becomes unsafe for employees to be outside. The county will refill the sites as needed.

Sandbag locations:

• Eagle Harbor Sports Complex, 4387 Lakeshore Drive, Fleming Island.
• 25 Roderigo Ave., Green Cove Springs.
• Orange Park Sports and Recreational Park, 1086 Fromhart St., Orange Park.
• Middleburg-Clay Hill Omega Park, 4317 County Road 218, Middleburg.
• Keystone Heights, across from City Hall, 555 S. Lawrence Blvd., Keystone Heights.

St. Johns County

Schools: St. Johns County schools will be closed Wednesday through Friday.

Garbage collection: Recycling collection is suspended through Friday. County officials said resouces will be redirected to collecting yard waste. Garbage collection will remain on its regular schedule.

Sandbags: St. Johns County will provide free sandbags from noon to 5 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday as long as weather permits and supplies last. The locations are:

• Windswept Acres Park, 5335 State Road A1A South, St. Augustine
• Solomon Calhoun Center, 1300 Duval Street, St. Augustine.
• St. Johns County Equestrian Center, 8200 Smith Road, Hastings.
• Mills Field, 1805 Racetrack Road, St. Augustine.
• North Beach Park, 3721 Coastal Highway, Vilano Beach.
• Palm Valley Bridge, ​East Side of Intracoastal Waterway.