WEATHER NEWS
Published October 6, 2024 1:48pm EDTUpdated October 8, 2024 2:11am EDT
Hurricane Warnings and Storm Surge Warnings are all in effect for Florida’s west coast as Hurricane Milton approaches. The National Hurricane Center warns Milton poses a “extremely serious threat” to Florida with life-threatening impacts.
By Steven YablonskiSource FOX Weather
Milton continues strengthening, prompting Hurricane Warnings for Florida
Hurricane and Storm Surge Warnings were issued as Hurricane Milton continues strengthening in the Gulf. FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross gives the updated forecast.
TAMPA – Mandatory evacuations are underway across the west coast of Florida as millions of residents prepare for life-threatening impacts from Hurricane Milton, which continues to rapidly intensifyover the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
On Monday, Milton strengthened into a powerful Category 5 storm with winds of 180 mph. As of early Tuesday morning, Milton had slightly weakened to Category 4 but is forecast to restrengthen and grow in size.
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TRACKING HURRICANE MILTON: PATH, SPAGHETTI MODELS, FORECAST, FLORIDA HURRICANE IMPACTS, LIVE RADAR AND MORE
The National Hurricane Center said the central pressure in the eye of Hurricane Milton has fallen to a near-record low.
“Milton poses an extremely serious threat to Florida,” the NHC wrote, urging residents to follow directions from local officials if told to leave.
Milton continues to be a monster storm and near record-breaking hurricane. According to the FOX Forecast Center, the hurricane has the second-lowest pressure on record in the Gulf of Mexico and the lowest pressure in the Atlantic since 2005.
At 180 mph, Milton is the strongest Atlantic hurricane in 5 years since Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Milton is also tied for the fourth strongest storm since record keeping began. Hurricane Allen with 190 mph winds holds the record for the strongest Atlantic hurricane.
- Image 1 of 5Shelves at a grocery store are empty of bottled water as Hurricane Milton churns in the Gulf of Mexico on October 07, 2024 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Milton, which comes on heels of the destructive Hurricane Helene, has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it approaches Florida’s Gulf Coast near St. Petersburg and Tampa, where it is projected to make landfall Wednesday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) ( )
The situation is becoming more dire in Florida, with state and local officials warning residents that the time to prepare for the life-threatening storm is running out. They say people near the coast or living in low-lying areas need to get out before the storm approaches and brings with it a potentially deadly storm surge that could reach up to 15 feet in some spots, including Tampa Bay.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis already placed 51 of the state’s 67 counties under a State of Emergency, and on Monday, President Joe Biden approved the state’s pre-landfall emergency declaration request, which now authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures.
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This graphic shows hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings for Milton. På
(FOX Weather)
The first alerts were posted along Florida’s Gulf Coast early Monday morning, and those have since expanded to include more areas of Central Florida, including the Orlando area.
As Hurricane Milton approached, Storm Surge Warnings were issued for the Gulf Coast of Florida from Flamingo to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay.
The current storm surge forecast for Tampa Bay is up to 15 feet if the peak surge coincides with high tide. This is notably higher than during Helene, when Tampa Bay saw 7-8 feet of storm surge.
This graphic shows storm surge alerts for Milton.
(FOX Weather)
Charlotte Harbor is expected to see a storm surge of 6-10 feet, while Bonita Beach could see a surge of 4-7 feet.
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A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach northward to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay.
Hurricane Milton storm surge forecast.
(FOX Weather)
A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the west coast of Florida south of Bonita Beach to Flamingo, including Lake Okeechobee, and north of the mouth of the Suwannee River northward and westward to Indian Pass.
A Tropical Storm Warning has also been issued for all of the Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay. A Storm Surge Watch has been issued for the U.S. east coast from Sebastian Inlet Florida to Edisto Beach South Carolina, including the St. Johns River.
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A Hurricane Watch has been issued along the east coast of the Florida Peninsula from the St. Lucie/Indian River County Line northward to the mouth of the St. Marys River.
A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued along the east coast of the Florida Peninsula south of the St. Lucie/Indian River County Line southward to Flamingo.
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A Tropical Storm Watch has also been issued along the coast of Georgia and South Carolina from north of the mouth of the St. Marys River to South Santee River, South Carolina.
What’s the latest with Hurricane Milton?
Current info on Hurricane Milton.
(FOX Weather)
Hurricane Milton is located about 585 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, and has maximum sustained winds of 155 mph, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Milton is moving off to the east-southeast at 9 mph.
What is the forecast for Hurricane Milton?
This graphic shows the potential track of Hurricane Milton.
(FOX Weather)
The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Milton is moving off to the east-southeast, and that general motion is expected to continue through Monday night. After that, the NHC said Hurricane Milton should make a turn to the east and then northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On that forecast track, Hurricane Milton is expected to move near or just north of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday, then cross the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by Wednesday.
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