Ahead of Week 6, Hurricane Milton has upgraded to a Category 5 storm. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing to evacuate Tampa early on Tuesday to beat the storm.
They will be traveling to New Orleans for their Week 6 matchup with the Saints.
Milton is strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico with 160 mph maximum sustained winds. Milton is expected to be destructive for Florida’s west coast, and even if the storm diminishes a bit before striking ashore, Tampa Bay is in the bull’s eye for significant impacts, the National Hurricane Center warned.
Tampa Bay’s Hurricane Warning
Tampa Bay rarely sees a direct hit from the west, but it’s happened before. Milton could change that history; the most notable instance was in 1848, though the area has for the most part escaped direct impacts since, until now. Tampa is under a special level of evacuation because Hillsborough County, which includes the city, is already starting to issue mandatory evacuation orders for areas with low elevations, including Zones A and B, and for all mobile and manufactured homes.
In the Tampa Bay area, a potential 8 to 12-foot storm surge could put people in widespread danger, with the National Weather Service warning. The Buccaneers will be able to keep out of the storm and be able to get ready for their next game. For Florida, Tampa Bay braces itself for Milton’s impact — but the team is now focused on staying safe and preparing for a vital divisional match-up against the Saints.