LIVE: Florida weather warnings updated as millions face race against time to escape ‘unsurvivable’ Hurricane Milton
by Katy Ronkin · LBCLive
By Katy Ronkin
Hurricane Milton is closing in on Florida bringing with it 'unsurvivable' 165mph winds - as millions of people are being told to flee the state.
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Joe Biden has urged people under orders to leave to "evacuate now, now, now."
"It's a matter of life and death, and that's not hyperbole," the US president said.
It could make landfall on Wednesday night in the Tampa Bay area - from around 7pm UK time.
The region has a population of more than 3.3 million people. The storm is likely to strike first in the less populated areas south of Tampa, but forecasters said "it is critical to remember that even at 24 hours out, it is still not possible to pinpoint an exact landfall location."
The 11 Florida counties under mandatory evacuation orders are home to about 5.9 million people.
Read more: Residents urged to leave as Hurricane Milton strengthens
Governor Ron DeSantis said the state deployed over 300 dump trucks that had removed 1,300 loads of debris left behind by Hurricane Helene.
Fluctuations in the storm's intensity are likely while Milton moves across the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Centre said, but it is expected to be a dangerous storm when it reaches Florida.
Follow our live blog for updates.
Kamala Harris says even the toughest Floridians are no match for Milton
Vice President Kamala warned Florida residents to evacuate, saying even the toughest Floridians won't be able to wait out the hurricane.
She issued her warning during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday night.
“The Hurricane that is about to hit Florida is extremely serious. And it is predicted to be historic in proportion, in terms of the damage it will cause. And I know a lot of tough Floridians that have waited out many hurricanes and may think they can do the same with this one,” Harris said.
“This one’s going to be different,” the vice president warned.
She continued: “I ask anyone who’s watching, if you’re in Florida in the predicted path, if you have a family member who might think they can wait it out, please get in touch with them and tell them it’s not going to be like the ones we’ve seen before. Please follow your local leader’s instructions. And if they’re telling you to evacuate, grab your stuff and get out.”
Katy Ronkin
Milton weakens to category 4 hurricane but winds to pick up across Florida
Katy Ronkin
Petrol is running out in Florida as residents try to evacuate
Petrol shortages grip Florida as residents try to evacuate.
According to petrol price tracker GasBuddy, via CNN, 19.7% of petrol stations in Florida were out of fuel.
70% of petrol stations in Fort Myers are out of fuel, as of yesterday.
It is unknown when fuel deliveries will arrive.
With mandatory evacuation orders from Tampa and Fort Myers, petrol is in high demand and highways are becoming increasingly congested.
Those staying in Florida require fuel for generators as officials warn of a storm surge taking out power.
Alice Padgett
Evacuations turn coastal city into 'ghost town'
Aerial footage of Treasure Island, Florida shows the city empty in the run-up to the hurricane.
The city wrote on its social media pages: "The eerie calm before the storm feels surreal as families flee to safety. leaving behind a city bracing for the unknown. Stay strong, stay safe, and continue to heed the warnings to evacuate,'"
Many cities in Florida have imposed a curfew for people remaining in the area, Mail Online Reports.
In Fort Myers Beach, a 24-hour daily general curfew began at 10 p.m. on Tuesday night.
The city of Naples will begin a 'vehicle curfew' starting at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
The island of Sanibel in Lee County will launch it's curfew at 10 p.m. on Wednesday.
In Flagler County, a curfew will last at least 12 hours, from Wednesday at 7 p.m. to Thursday at 7 a.m.
Volusia County's cufew will being at 8 p.m. on Wednesday and is slated to end at 8 a.m. on Thursday.
Katy Ronkin
Florida residents refusing to flee hurricane Milton told to write their names in permanent ink on their arm
Florida’s Attorney General has told people who are refusing to evacuate for Hurricane Milton to write their name in permanent marker on their arm so that their bodies can be more easily identified.
Ashley Moody made the stark comment in a press conference with Republican Senator Rick Scott on Monday, addressing residents defying evacuation orders.
She said any Floridians who aren't evacuating that "you probably need to write your name in permanent marker on your arm so that people know who you are when they get to you afterwards.”
She said officials are still “uncovering folks on the beach who thought they could stay there, and the storm surge got them,” referring to Hurricane Helene’s impact last week.
Read the full story here: Florida residents refusing to flee hurricane Milton told to write their names in permanent ink on their arm
Katy Ronkin
All UK flights to Florida cancelled and theme parks closed as Hurricane Milton races towards land
All flights to Florida from the UK have been cancelled after the majority of airports confirmed they would be ceasing operations this morning.
Disney World and Universal Orlando World have closed their parks until at least tomorrow.
Airlines including TUI, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have been forced to cancel more flights.Most airports in the state have already closed.
See the full list here: All UK flights to Florida cancelled and theme parks closed as Hurricane Milton races towards land
Katy Ronkin
Tornados likely to hit Florida today, as Hurricane Milton develops
The SPC has warned that "several tornadoes will be likely across parts of the central and southern Florida Peninsula, into the Florida Keys."
Central Florida has an enhanced risk of tornados , according to the SPC. The areas of Fort Myers, Melbourne and Kissimmee are among those hit, with some 3 million people living in these area.
The southern peninsula of Florida is at a slight risk of tornados, with cities Tampa, St. Petersburg and Orlando listed.
Hurricanes can create tornados as they make landfall. Hurricanes affect large areas while tornados are more localised, narrow and violent.
Alice Padgett
How will the hurricane develop once it hits land?
Hurricane Milton is expected to reach Florida late Wednesday night.
Here's the path meteorologists expect the storm to follow as it travels east from the Gulf Coast.
Katy Ronkin
WATCH: Shocking moment storm chasers plane battered by Hurricane Milton as Florida braces for 'storm of century'
This is the astonishing moment storm chasers enter the eye of Hurricane Milton as the record breaking storm prepares to smash into Florida.
Millions have been forced to evacuate as the storm is set to hit the state within hours bringing with it 160mph wind and 15ft storm surges.
Footage shows scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) being thrown around the flight.
Get the full story: Shocking moment storm chasers plane battered by Hurricane Milton as Florida braces for 'storm of century'
Katy Ronkin
"Write your name in permanent marker on your arm" - Florida Attorney General warns residents of deadly storm
Attorney General Ashley Moody tells Floridians who aren't evacuating that "you probably need to write your name in permanent marker on your arm so that people know who you are when they get to you afterwards.”
Moody spoke at a press conference with Republican Senator Rick Scott on Monday, addressing residents defying evacuation orders.
Moody reminded Floridians that officials are still “uncovering folks on the beach who thought they could stay there, and the storm surge got them,” referring to Hurricane Helene’s impact last week.
Officials warn of a storm surge taking out power and washing away homes in Tampa Bay.
Alice Padgett