MIAMI – An alarming change in the forecast now shows the potential for a dangerous hurricane to strike the west coast of Florida later this week with damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, and torrential rain.
What’s the latest with Tropical Storm Milton?
Milton is forecast to pick up speed early next week and turn to the east/northeast across the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico, reaching hurricane strength on Monday with rapid strengthening likely during the early part of the week, according to the NHC.
On the current schedule, Milton would arrive at the Florida Peninsula around Wednesday, although winds could increase late on Tuesday. Well in advance of the storm, waves of heavy rain are forecast beginning Sunday, especially in Central and South Florida.
"The GFS (model) and the European (model) have a significant storm offshore (of Florida on Wednesday)," Norcross said. "How significant is this? Yes, it could be a hurricane. Decent chance. And these models, they say hurricane. Could it be a strong hurricane? Category two, Category three. We can’t even rule that out."
Tracking Milton: Spaghetti Models, Forecast Cone, Live Radar, and More
The forecast with Milton has evolved quite a bit in the last 24 hours, showing greater potential to be a more significant storm.
"I don’t like the way this is developing at all, and it’s going to happen pretty quickly," says FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross. "It just means the odds are significantly higher (Saturday) than they were (Friday) that a memorable, impactful storm is going to impact Florida in the days ahead."
What are the storm surge possibilities?
Norcross says it’s too early to predict how much storm surge this system could generate on Florida’s West Coast, as it’ll depend on Milton’s track and where it makes landfall in western Florida. But it will be significant and dangerous.
"In some areas, it will likely be higher than in Hurricane Helene," Norcross said. "It’s critical that everybody in Central and South Florida stay well-informed since things are developing quickly."
How much rain is expected?
Forecast models show the heaviest rainfall is expected to be from the Interstate 4 corridor and southward, where a widespread area could see 5-8 inches of rainfall over the next week, with some areas nearing a foot of rain.
Because much of the rain will be spread out over several days, widespread flooding is not anticipated, but where thunderstorms repeatedly move over the same region, issues could arise.
What’s to be expected with the rest of hurricane season?
The waters in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf remain plenty warm for development, and October is typically the month with the most landfalls in South Florida.
According to NOAA historical data, more than 60% of landfalls in the region occur after the climatological peak of the hurricane season, which is Sept. 10.
The latest date a hurricane has ever hit the Sunshine State is Nov. 21, when Hurricane Kate slammed into the Florida Panhandle in 1985.
The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor Hurricane Kirk in the central Atlantic and Hurricane Leslie in the eastern Atlantic, but neither poses a direct threat to any landmasses over the next week.
There is also a new disturbance off the coast of Africa that is being tracked.
Conclusion
The National Hurricane Center is now forecasting Hurricane Milton to make landfall on the West Coast of Florida as a top-end Category 2, with the potential for a significant, problematic, impactful storm coming toward Florida Tuesday, Wednesday-ish of next week.
FAQs
Q: What is the current forecast for Tropical Storm Milton?
A: Milton is forecast to rapidly intensify into a hurricane by early to middle of next week, eventually reaching Florida on Wednesday.
Q: What are the storm surge possibilities?
A: Norcross says it’s too early to predict how much storm surge this system could generate on Florida’s West Coast, but it will be significant and dangerous.
Q: How much rain is expected?
A: Forecast models show the heaviest rainfall is expected to be from the Interstate 4 corridor and southward, where a widespread area could see 5-8 inches of rainfall over the next week, with some areas nearing a foot of rain.
Q: What’s to be expected with the rest of hurricane season?
A: The waters in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf remain plenty warm for development, and October is typically the month with the most landfalls in South Florida.
