Hurricane Milton has indeed weakened but is still listed as an Extremely Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane; that, according to a National Hurricane Center report.
Milton had 145 mph winds (down from 155 mph earlier) and could bring a potentially catastrophic 10 to 15 feet of storm surge to the Florida area – and the hurricane center is expecting Milton to make “landfall” – on the western Florida Peninsula on Wednesday night then cross over the state, still as a powerful storm.
The Hurricane Center DID NOT mince words when describing that threat – saying “It is worth emphasizing that this is a very serious situation and residents in Florida should “VERY Closely” follow all the orders from the local emergency management officials.
“Milton has the potential, to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.” Milton is not expected to directly affect either Alabama OR the northwest Florida Panhandle, but there is a high risk for rip currents in effect along those coasts and officials warned beachgoers to stay out of the Gulf.
Milton is expected to turn more to the northeast – and then move across the Gulf and approach the Florida Peninsula on Wednesday.
There is the potential for Milton to strengthen again TODAY now, and the hurricane center’s intensity forecast shows Milton’s winds could climb to 160 mph over the next 12 hours. The Hurricane Center says that Milton COULD fluctuate in strength – and is expected to remain an “extremely dangerous” hurricane, all of the way through landfall in Florida.
Storm surge is one of the biggest concerns with Milton – and 10 to 15 feet will be possible along parts of the west coast of Florida, including Tampa Bay. The National Weather Service in Tampa has warned Floridians that Milton has the potential to be the WORST storm the area has seen in 100 years.
Here are the Watches and Warnings as of Tuesday:
*A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for the west coast of Florida from Flamingo northward to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay, the east coast of Florida from the Volusia/Brevard County Line northward to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River, including the St. Johns River.
* A Hurricane Warning is in effect from Celestun to Rio Lagartos in Mexico, the Florida west coast from Bonita Beach northward to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay and the Florida east coast from the Indian River/St. Lucie County Line northward to Ponte Vedra Beach.
* A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from Sebastian Inlet to the Volusia/Brevard County Line and from the mouth of the St. Mary’s River to Edisto Beach.
* A Hurricane Watch is in effect from Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche in Mexico, the Dry Tortugas, Lake Okeechobee and the Florida west coast from Chokoloskee to south of Bonita Beach.
* A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Rio Lagartos to Cancun in Mexico, all of the Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay, Lake Okeechobee, the Florida west coast from Flamingo to south of Bonita Beach, the Florida west coast from north of the mouth of the Suwanee River to Indian Pass, the Florida east coast south of the Indian River/St. Lucie County Line to Flamingo and the Florida east coast north of Ponte Vedra Beach to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River .
* A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the coast of Georgia and South Carolina from north of the mouth of the St. Marys River to South Santee River, S.C.
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