ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — WTOL 11 Chief Meteorologist Chris Vickers was deployed to Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall in the Tampa Bay area, in order to assist WTOL 11 sister station WTSP - "10 Tampa Bay."
Vickers arrived in St. Petersburg overnight Sunday into Monday, where he will assist 10 Tampa Bay during coverage of the incoming storm.
"This week I’ve been deployed to assist our sister station WTSP in Tampa, Florida with what appears to be the arrival of a major Hurricane Milton," Vickers said in a Facebook post. "Follow along for updates all week, and please keep me and all those in Florida in your thoughts and prayers!"
Hurricane Milton, which formed as a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico Saturday, rapidly intensified to a Category Four Major Hurricane by Monday morning. It is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area sometime late Wednesday or early Thursday.
The hurricane is expected to impact most of the state of Florida, before crossing out into the Atlantic. The hurricane comes less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region, before ravaging parts of the southeastern US with historic flooding.
Follow this blog to stay up-to-date on Hurricane Milton, as well as the important work Vickers and the 10 Tampa Bay meteorologists are doing to keep the public informed and safe.
WTSP staff, Chris Vickers head inland following evacuation orders - Oct. 8, 10 a.m.
10 Tampa Bay and Chris Vickers are moving to a secondary location further inland. When Hurricane Milton makes landfall, it could bring life-threatening storm surge. Vickers told WTOL 11 they would move to the secondary site after WTSP's noon show Tuesday.
Behind the scene views from 10 Tampa Bay - Oct. 7
Milton has incredibly powerful winds, pressure - Oct. 7, 9:30 p.m.
Expect power outages from wind damage - Oct. 7, 9:15 p.m.
Milton winds rapidly increase over 24 hours, according to National Hurricane Center - Oct. 7, 6 p.m.
Massive traffic backups in Tampa as millions evacuate - Oct. 7, 5:30 p.m.
Emergency alerts frequent at WTSP newsroom - Oct. 7, 5:20 p.m.
Maximum winds reach 175 mph - Oct. 7, 4 p.m.
24-hour breakdown: One of the strongest case of rapid intensification - Oct. 7, 2:45 p.m.
Hurricane Milton now a Category 5 storm - Oct. 7, Noon
Hurricane Milton reached a Category 5 status around noon, with max winds at 160 mph.