Hurricane Milton tracker: Cat. 5 storm with 180 mph winds prompts storm surge, hurricane warnings for Bay Area
Revised on October 7, 2024, at 8:08 PM EDT.
FOX 13's head meteorologist, Paul Dellegatto, is monitoring Hurricane Milton. This intense storm has reached Category 5 status, boasting maximum sustained winds of 180 mph.
TAMPA, Fla. - Hurricane Milton is quickly gaining strength, now reaching the powerful Category 5 level with maximum sustained winds of 180 miles per hour as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico on Monday.
By 8 p.m. on Monday, Hurricane Milton was positioned at 21.9N latitude and 90.4W longitude, approximately 650 miles southwest of Tampa. The storm was moving eastward at a speed of 10 miles per hour.
Hurricane Milton: A County-by-County Overview
The National Hurricane Center reports that the central pressure in the eye of Hurricane Milton has dropped to nearly a record low as the storm approaches the west coast of Florida.
The National Hurricane Center indicates that Milton might intensify further on Monday night and into Tuesday morning due to light shear and very warm ocean temperatures. However, radar observations suggest that Milton could be starting an eyewall replacement cycle, showing some indications of a surrounding area of calm (moat) and a partial outer eyewall. As a result, it is expected that while the system may gradually weaken on Tuesday, it will also become larger in size.
On Wednesday, Milton is likely to face tougher conditions due to strong winds at different altitudes and dry air mixing in, which experts think will cause the storm to lose strength.
Nevertheless, Hurricane Milton is anticipated to be a significant and strong storm when it reaches the coast of Florida.
READ: Understanding Category 5 Hurricanes
Milton is expected to stay a hurricane as it moves over the Florida Peninsula, bringing dangerous hurricane-strength winds, particularly in gusts, that are likely to move further inland throughout much of the state.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced a state of emergency for 51 counties in Florida, which includes every county in the Tampa Bay region, as a precautionary measure before the storm hits Milton.
The National Hurricane Center has stated that Milton has the potential to be one of the most devastating hurricanes ever documented in west-central Florida.
A Hurricane Warning is currently active for the west coast of Florida, stretching from Bonita Beach up to the mouth of the Suwannee River, which includes the Tampa Bay area.
A Storm Surge Warning has been announced for the western coast of Florida, stretching from Flamingo up to the Suwannee River. This covers areas such as Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay.
A Flood Watch is currently active for the entire Tampa Bay region, much of Central Florida, and all of South Florida.
The Tampa Bay region is currently on alert for flooding until Thursday morning, and this warning extends to much of Central Florida and the entirety of South Florida as well.
Watch Vs. Warning: What's The Difference?
A Hurricane Warning indicates that the area under the warning is likely to experience hurricane conditions. This alert is usually given 36 hours in advance of when tropical-storm-force winds are predicted to arrive, making it challenging or hazardous to prepare outdoors.
A Hurricane Watch indicates that there is a chance of hurricane conditions developing in the designated area. This alert is usually announced 48 hours ahead of when tropical-storm-force winds are expected to arrive, making it challenging or hazardous to prepare outdoors.
Hurricane Milton: Required evacuations have commenced in the Tampa Bay region.
A Storm Surge Warning indicates that there is a risk of dangerous flooding due to water surging in from the coast, expected to occur within the next 36 hours in the specified areas.
A Storm Surge Watch indicates that there’s a chance of dangerous flooding caused by water pushing inland from the coast in the specified areas within the next 48 hours.
When Will The Bay Area Feel The Effects?
Certain regions are expected to experience significant rain on Monday and Tuesday. Meteorologists at FOX 13 indicate that this downpour is not directly linked to Milton.
Rain predicted for Milton is expected to start on Wednesday and last through Thursday before the storm passes.
Hurricane Milton is anticipated to greatly affect the Tampa Bay region, bringing with it several inches of rain across the area.
The amount of rain we're anticipating will vary based on Milton's trajectory. However, the most significant rainfall is predicted to occur from the I-4 corridor southward, with some places potentially receiving several inches, and in certain areas, up to a foot of rain over the coming week.
Hurricane Milton: Schools in the Bay Area shut down because of the storm.
Regarding additional major effects such as strong winds and dangerous storm surges, FOX 13 Meteorologist Dave Osterberg emphasizes that the location where the storm makes landfall will be crucial in figuring out where the most severe impact of Milton will occur.
"Although we have certain information at this point, there are still questions that remain," Osterberg stated. "I can't specify where it will come ashore or how much it will lose strength before that happens."
FOX 13's Chief Meteorologist Paul Dellegatto cautions that even if Milton loses some strength before hitting land, the storm surge will still be significant. The location where it makes landfall, further south, is expected to experience the most substantial surge, with current predictions indicating a rise of 8 to 12 feet from Anclote down to Fort Myers Beach.
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH FOX 13 TAMPA BAY:
