Article first published: Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, 4 a.m. ET
Article last updated: Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, 10 p.m. ET
The National Hurricane Center’s 10 pm Wednesday advisory reported that Category 2 Hurricane Milton is 75 miles southwest of Orlando Florida and 100 miles west-southwest of Cape Canaveral Florida, with maximum sustained wind of 105 mph. It’s moving at 16 mph to the east-northeast.
“… the center of Milton will continue to move across the central part of the Florida peninsula overnight, and emerge off the east coast of Florida on Thursday.” according to meteorologists. “Milton is forecast to maintain hurricane intensity while crossing Florida overnight.” They also said “After moving into the Atlantic, Milton is expected to gradually lose tropical characteristics and slowly weaken.”
There were numerous changes today: system began as a Category 4 hurricane and a Category 3 hurricane but ultimately became a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 105 mph. Milton is now impacting Florida.
YESTERDAY (Tuesday):
Yesterday, Milton became a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 165 mph after intensifying from a Category 4 hurricane.
Portions of the east coast of Florida placed under a hurricane warning and a storm surge warning by forecasters.
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The Storm Surge Warning has been discontinued north of Anclote River.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for:
– Florida west coast from Flamingo northward to Anclote River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay
– Sebastian Inlet Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia, including the St. Johns River
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
– Florida west coast from Bonita Beach northward to Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay
– Florida east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line northward to Ponte Vedra Beach
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
– Lake Okeechobee
– Florida east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to the Palm Beach/Martin County Line
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
– Florida Keys, including Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay
– Lake Okeechobee
– Florida west coast from Flamingo to south of Bonita Beach
– Florida west coast from north of Suwanee River to Indian Pass
– Florida east coast south of the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to Flamingo
– North of Ponte Vedra Beach Florida to Edisto Beach South Carolina
– Extreme northwestern Bahamas, including Grand Bahama Island, the Abacos, and Bimini
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline in the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND:
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…
Anna Maria Island, FL to Boca Grande, FL…9-13 ft Boca Grande, FL to Bonita Beach, FL…8-12 ft Charlotte Harbor…8-12 ft Bonita Beach, FL to Chokoloskee, FL…5-8 ft Chokoloskee, FL to Flamingo, FL…3-5 ft Sebastian Inlet, FL to Altamaha Sound, GA…3-5 ft Anclote River, FL to Anna Maria Island, FL…3-5 ft Tampa Bay…3-5 ft St. Johns River…2-4 ft
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the south of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.
For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml? PeakSurge.
RAINFALL: Rainfall amounts of 8 to 14 inches, with localized totals up to 18 inches, are expected across central to northern portions of the Florida Peninsula through Thursday. This rainfall will continue to bring the risk of catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with moderate to major river flooding. For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Hurricane Milton, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml? Rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml? Ero.
WIND: Hurricane conditions are occurring within the hurricane warning area and are spreading east-northeastward across the Florida peninsula. Hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch area tonight and on Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are occurring along the west coast of Florida and have already reached the east coast of Florida. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in the warning area along the Georgia and South Carolina coast on Thursday.
Tropical storm conditions are expected in portions of the northwestern Bahamas on Thursday.
TORNADOES: A tornado or two is possible through early Thursday morning over parts of central and eastern Florida.
SURF: Swells generated by Milton are expected to continue to affect much of the Gulf Coast and will increase along the southeastern U.S. coast during the next day or two. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Source: National Hurricane Center