Hurricane Milton’s maximum sustained winds have decreased slightly to 165 mph, down from 180 mph, but it still remains classified as a Category 5 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is currently located approximately 630 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, and is moving east at a speed of 9 mph. It is expected to make landfall near Tampa as a major Category 3 hurricane late Wednesday.
The weakening of the storm is likely attributed to an eyewall replacement cycle, where a larger outer eyewall forms and takes over as the inner eyewall shrinks and collapses. This process, which is common in major hurricanes, typically results in slight weakening while also increasing the storm’s overall size. As the outer eyewall tightens, the hurricane may regain strength. Without wind shear or interaction with land, major hurricanes can undergo multiple eyewall replacement cycles, leading to fluctuations in their intensity.
Milton’s intensity over the next 24 hours will be influenced by this eyewall replacement cycle.
