Hurricane Awareness

Hurricane Milton will remain a powerful, potentially deadly and destructive force as it roars ashore in the Florida Peninsula along the central Gulf coast around 2 a.m. EDT Thursday, AccuWeather meteorologists continue to warn.


Milton intensified rapidly and nearly tripled in strength in less than 36 hours from Sunday to Monday, eventually becoming a Category 5 with winds of 180 mph while spinning off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Category 5 is the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
 
A record storm surge can occur near and just to the south of where the eye moves ashore. At this time, a storm surge of 15-20 feet is forecast for Tampa Bay, as well as the Sarasota and St. Petersburg, Florida areas. The storm surge will drop off significantly north of where the eye rolls in but can be delayed and build after the storm moves inland.


Significant, dangerous and damaging water rise will occur well to the south of where the eye rolls in with a storm surge of 10-15 feet from Venice to Cape Coral and Fort Myers, Florida, and 6-10 feet possible in Naples and Marco Island, Florida.
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As Milton approaches the Florida coast Wednesday and makes landfall late Wednesday night, it will grow in size, and its tropical-storm- and hurricane-force winds will spread out.


"We expect hurricane conditions throughout the Interstate 4 corridor which will be close to the track of Milton as it moves inland," Porter warned. Major metro areas that can expect the impacts of a hurricane include Orlando, Winter Haven and Daytona Beach.


Widespread tree and power line damage will occur, with millions likely to be without power. Some of the power outages may last many days to weeks in the hardest-hit areas, especially since some of the distant utility crews that would typically assist for Milton are still working on restoring power in the wake of Helene over northern Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.
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Rain to swamp streets, trigger rises on rivers and lakes​


Another damaging and disruptive aspect of Milton will be tremendous rainfall. While the forward speed of the hurricane will limit the duration of the heaviest downpours, rainfall rates of 3-5 inches per hour can occur, which are more than enough to overwhelm storm drains and flood low-lying areas despite Florida's sandy soil.


AccuWeather meteorologists expect a broad area where 8-12 inches of rain will pour down over the central and northern parts of the Florida Peninsula, but within this zone, pockets of 12-24 inches of rain will occur with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ rainfall of 30 inches.
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Tornado risk with Milton​


As is the case with any hurricane that makes landfall, the energy release often triggers severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes even dozens to hundreds of miles away from the eye.
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An evacuation order has been issued for Zones A and B in Lee County. Don’t wait, evacuate! Evacuation only needs to be tens of miles, not hundreds to be safe. Shelters in your area can accommodate your needs.
 
An evacuation order has been issued for Zones A and B in Lee County. Don’t wait, evacuate! Evacuation only needs to be tens of miles, not hundreds to be safe. Shelters in your area can accommodate your needs.
Think your preaching to the the wrong choir here
 
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WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE ALONG THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA BY THIS AFTERNOON.PREPARATIONS, INCLUDING EVACUATION IF TOLD TO DO SO, SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION THIS MORNING...
 
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