Hurricane Milton Takes Aim on Florida as Cat 3 Major Hurricane

Update: October 8, 2024:

Major Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified from a Tropical Storm to a Category 5 Hurricane with 180 MPH winds between Sunday evening and Monday morning. A hurricane hunter aircraft recorded a near record low of 897mb, or 26.49 inches of mercury. Milton ties the third-place record for strongest winds, and is the second strongest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Rita in 2005 had 180 MPH winds and a low pressure of 895 mbar.

Milton has weakened slightly since the near record strength recorded yesterday. The National Hurricane Center in its discussion this morning that Milton underwent a complete eyewall replacement. Eyewall replacement is common in strong hurricanes and a signal that the size of the storm is growing.

By landfall, the width of hurricane and tropical storm force winds will extend well beyond the current forecast cone.

Hurricane Milton NHC Key Messages

• Milton will make landfall near the Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg area late Wednesday afternoon, early evening as a category 3 or possible category 4 hurricane.
• Hurricane Milton will grow in size as its winds slightly decrease. At landfall, hurricane force and tropical storm force winds will extend beyond the currrent forecast cone.
• A deadly 10 to 15 foot storm surge will inundate the landfall area, and life-threatening surge is forecast for the entire Florida Penisula Gulf Coast. Storm Surge Watches and Warnings  up to 6 feet are in effect for the Atlantic Coast extend from Sebastian Inlet north to South Santee River in South Carolina.
• Milton will remain a hurricane as it crosses the peninsula before entering the Atlantic Ocean near or at Cape Cananveral, where hurricane warnings are now in effect.
• Heavy rainfal ahead of Milton’s arrival through Thursday will cause flash and urban flooding. Tornadoes are associated with the hurricane are also possible.

Saturday, October 5, 2024, Gulf of Mexico. The broad area of showers and thunderstorms that extended from the Western Caribbean Sea into the Gulf of Mexico over the past week has organized into Tropical Storm Milton. Milton will strengthen overnight and tomorrow into a Hurricane by Sunday morning. By 1:00PM Tuesday, it should reach Category 3, a Major Hurricane.

The current National Hurricane Center forecast indicates a landfall near Tampa Bay on Wednesday at approximately 1:00 PM as a Category 3 storm. However, the forecast cone encompasses nearly the entire Peninsula from the Big Bend Region to the Everglades, but not the Florida Keys.

Tropical Storm Milton Key Messages

• Milton will intensify quickly over the next 36 hours as it moves eastward cross the Gulf of Mexico. It will be at or near major hurricane strength when it reaches Florida midweek.
• Expect Life Threatening Storm Surge across portions of the west Florida Coast beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday.
• Residents along the western coast should have their hurricane plans in place and be prepared to evacuate.
• Follow advice from local officials. Stay tuned to the National Hurricane Center, and Local Weather for updates.
• Areas of heavy rain up to 12 inches on Sunday and Monday will precede hurricane’s arrival on Wednesday. Flash, urban, and area flooding. Minor to moderate river flooding is possible.
• Swells from the storm will begin affecting the west Gulf Coast today and spread north and east, and bring life-threatening RIP currents and Surf.

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