UPDATED 7:45AM -Milton Now A Cat 3 – Hurricane Watch, Storm Surge Watch for Gulf Coast, TS Watch for the Keys

Updated: 7:45 AM – Hurricane Milton is now a category 3 – winds are at 125 MPH.

UPDATED 6:30AM:

As Milton intensifies in the Gulf of Mexico, a hurricane watch is now in effect for Florida’s Gulf coast from Chokoloskee north to the Suwannee River and for the Dry Tortugas.  There’s also a storm surge watch from Flamingo to the Suwannee River.  Both of these watches include the Naples area.

At 5 am Monday, Hurricane Milton was about 750 miles west-southwest of Tampa.  Maximum sustained winds were 100 miles per hour, and Milton was moving east-southeast at 8 miles per hour.  Milton is forecast to become a major hurricane later today.

South Florida is under a flood watch through Thursday morning, and we’re expecting additional watches or warnings related to Hurricane Milton, which will affect our area on Wednesday.  At the least, South Florida can expect 5 to 8 inches of rain through Wednesday night, with some locations seeing up to 12 inches of rainfall.  And we can’t rule out potentially deadly storm surge along the Gulf coast, coastal flooding in the Keys, damaging winds, and an isolated tornado.

Monday features clouds and showers with periods of heavy rain.  The flood watch continues, as South Florida can expect up to an additional 2 inches of rain on Monday.  An elevated risk of dangerous rip currents is in place at the Atlantic beaches.  Highs on Monday will be in the low 80s right at the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and in the mid 80s elsewhere in South Florida.

Tuesday will bring clouds and showers to the east coast metro area, with periods of heavy rain and localized flooding possible.  The Gulf coast will be cloudy with lots of showers on a gusty breeze during the day.  Tropical storm conditions are possible along the Gulf coast beginning Tuesday night.  Tuesday’s highs will be mostly in the upper 80s in the east coast metro area and the Keys and in the mid 80s along the Gulf coast.

Wednesday could see hurricane conditions along the Gulf coast and the Lower Keys during the day, gradually giving way to tropical storm conditions in the evening.  Tropical storm conditions are possible in the east coast metro area and the rest of the Keys during the day and through the evening.  Hazards include damaging winds of either hurricane or tropical storm strength, periods of very heavy rain with localized flooding, and storm surge or coastal flooding along the Gulf coast and in the Keys.  Wednesday’s highs will be mostly in the mid 80s

Thursday will feature very breezy conditions, a mix of sun and clouds, and lingering showers and storms as Milton moves away from Florida.  Thursday’s highs will be mostly in the mid 80s.

Friday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with a few showers.  The Gulf coast will be breezy.  Highs on Friday will be in the mid 80s.

In the tropics, Milton started developing an eyewall on Sunday morning, beginning a period of rapid development .  At 5 pm Sunday, Milton was about 805 miles west-southwest of Tampa and had maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour.  Milton was moving east at 7 miles per hour at that time.  Milton is forecast to become a major hurricane as it turns to the northeast.  Landfall is forecast somewhere along Florida’s Gulf coast on Wednesday afternoon, but conditions will deteriorate much earlier on Wednesday.  While no watches were issued for Florida by 5 pm Sunday, expect a hurricane watch and storm surge watch to be issued Sunday night or Monday morning.

Elsewhere, Hurricane Kirk is accelerating northeastward in the Atlantic and is forecast to become post-tropical by Monday night.  It will affect portions of northern Europe on Wednesday.  Leslie strengthened a bit on Sunday but is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm on Tuesday.  Leslie continues to move northwest in the central Atlantic.  Finally, a wave that will emerge off the African coast has a low chance of development but will bring gusty winds and heavy rain to the Cabo Verde Islands on Wednesday and Thursday.