Article first published: Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, 10 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, 10 p.m. ET

On Saturday at 10 pm, the National Hurricane Center issued an advisory stating that the weather system had gained sufficient intensity to be named Milton. The tropical depression had upgraded to a tropical storm with winds of 45 mph. Tropical Storm Milton is 365 miles west-northwest of Progreso Mexico and 860 miles west-southwest of Tampa Florida, with maximum sustained wind of 45 mph. It’s moving 5 mph to the north-northeast. Tropical Storm Milton is forecast to strengthen.

The system strengthened enough to get a name: Tropical Storm Milton. It found new strength and has evolved from a tropical depression into a tropical storm with sustained winds of 45 miles per hour.

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of Mexico has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Celestun to Cancun

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:

– Celestun to Cancun

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests in the remainder of the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, and the northwestern Bahamas should monitor the progress of this system.

Hurricane and Storm Surge watches will likely be required for portions of Florida late Sunday.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:

RAINFALL: Rainfall amounts of 5 to 8 inches, with localized totals up to 12 inches, are expected across portions of the Florida Peninsula and the Keys through Wednesday night. This rainfall brings the risk of flash, urban, and areal flooding, along with minor to moderate river flooding.

The system may also produce rainfall of 2 to 4 inches across portions of the northern Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba.

For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Milton, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml? Rainqpf.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are possible in the Tropical Storm Watch area in the Yucatan Peninsula Monday night and Tuesday.

SURF: Swells generated by the system will begin to affect the coast of the southwestern Gulf of Mexico today. These swells are expected to spread northward and eastward along much of the Gulf Coast by early next week, and could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Source: National Hurricane Center