Hurricane Milton intensified at a historically fast rate on Monday as it made its way through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida.
As of 5 pm on Monday, there’s a hurricane warning for the Gulf Coast from Bonita Beach to the Suwannee River and a storm surge warning from Flamingo to the Suwannee River. The storm surge warning includes the Naples area.
In South Florida, there’s a tropical storm warning for the Keys and the Gulf coast from Flamingo to Bonita Beach, and there’s a tropical storm watch from Flamingo to the Saint Lucie/Indian River county line, which includes our east coast metro area.
Milton is forecast to make landfall late Wednesday night or very early Thursday morning, but the weather will deteriorate much earlier.
Tuesday will be cloudy with periods of showers and storms in the east coast metro area and the Keys. The Gulf Coast will see some sun and more clouds with periods of showers during the day — but tropical storm conditions are possible on Tuesday night. Expect a high risk of dangerous rip currents at the Atlantic beaches and an increasing rip current risk along the Gulf coast. Highs on Tuesday will be in the upper 80s in the East Coast metro area and the Keys and the mid-80s along the Gulf Coast.
Wednesday’s weather will depend on the track of Hurricane Milton. Right now, it looks like the east coast metro area and the Keys could see tropical storm-force winds, heavy rain with localized flooding, and possibly an isolated tornado. The Gulf Coast can expect possible hurricane-force gusts as well as 4 to 7 feet of storm surge, heavy rain with localized flooding, and possibly an isolated tornado. Don’t even think about going to the beach on Wednesday. Wednesday’s highs will be in the upper 80s.
Thursday will be windy with clouds, showers, and some storms as we continue to feel the effects of Milton. Expect an elevated risk of dangerous rip currents at all South Florida beaches. Thursday’s highs will be in the upper 80s in the East Coast metro area and the mid-80s along the Gulf Coast and in the Keys.
Friday will be breezy with a mix of sun, clouds, and showers. Friday’s highs will be in the mid-80s.
Saturday’s forecast calls for lots of sun, a few clouds, and maybe a shower. Highs on Saturday will be in the mid-80s.
Hurricane Milton is the big story in the tropics, as South Florida and much of the peninsula prepare for what’s shaping up to be a catastrophic hurricane event. Milton reached category 5 status early Monday afternoon, and it is expected to remain a major hurricane at landfall.
Elsewhere, Kirk is now a post-tropical cyclone and is racing to the northeast. Leslie is weakening to a tropical storm as it moves through the middle of the central Atlantic. A wave is expected to emerge from the African coast in a day or so and bring heavy rain and gusty winds to the Cabo Verde Islands on Thursday and Friday. And the area of disturbed weather that has brought us so much rain on Sunday and Monday now has a low chance of becoming a depression during the next few days until hostile winds cut off development.
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