The National Hurricane Center, as of 5 a.m., projects Hurricane Milton to make landfall between Sarasota and Tampa Bay as a Category 4 storm, and says the core will travel through central or south Osceola County very early Thursday morning.
Osceola should prepare for, and expect to see, Category 2 conditions, with wind gusts up to 100 mph and sustained winds of 70-80 mph for a few hours of Thursday morning.
Milton remains a Category 5 hurricane with 160 mph maximum sustained winds at 5 p.m. The hurricane-force winds are still only 30 miles from the center, but while the system will begin to weaken due to wind shear, drier air around it and land interaction, the wind field is expected to expand.
While we're focusing on winds since we are inland and not subject to surge (pray for our Gulf coast friends), rain of 5 to 10 inches may be an issue locally as well. Local officials urged residents living in low-lying, flood-prone areas, mobile and manufactured homes, or homes with potential structural issues should plan to seek alternate shelter before noon. Feeder bands will start with rain and gusty winds early Wednesday (today) afternoon. If you need a shelter, this will open on Wednesday at 8 a.m.:
- Celebration High School - 1809 Celebration Blvd., Kissimmee, FL 34747
- Gateway High School (Pet-Friendly) - 93 Panther Paws Trail, Kissimmee, FL 34744
- Harmony High School (Pet-Friendly) - 3601 Arthur J. Gallagher Blvd., St. Cloud, FL 34771
- Holopaw Community Center - 8801 Community Center Rd., St. Cloud, FL 34773
- Kenansville Community Center - 1178 S Canoe Creek Rd., Kenansville, FL 34739
- Kissimmee Middle School (Pet-Friendly) - 2410 Dyer Blvd., Kissimmee, FL 34741
- Liberty High School (Pet-Friendly) - 4250 Pleasant Hill Rd., Kissimmee, FL 34746
- Opened Tuesday (10/8): Good Samaritan Village residents only. Central Avenue Elementary - 500 W Columbia Ave, Kissimmee, FL 34741
- Opened Tuesday (10/8): Special medical needs shelter only Osceola Council on Aging - 700 Generation Point, Kissimmee, FL 34744
