… Major Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall along the west
coast of Florida late Wednesday evening…
…Milton will bring life-threatening impacts to much of Florida including
a destructive storm surge, devastating hurricane-force winds, and
considerable flash and urban flooding…
…Unseasonably hot temperatures expand over much of the western and
central U.S., some record-tying/breaking highs possible…
Hurricane Milton is a strong, major hurricane northeast of the Yucatan as
of this afternoon according to the National Hurricane Center. Milton looks
to make landfall somewhere along the west-central Florida coast late
Wednesday evening or early Thursday, but impacts will extend across much
of the state as it moves inland.This includes but is not limited to
Tampa-St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Bradenton, Cape Coral-Fort Myers,
Lakeland-Winter Haven, Orlando, and Melbourne. In addition to possible
sustained major hurricane force winds, a large area of destructive,
potentially catastrophic storm surge will occur along the west coast of
Florida on Wednesday or early Thursday, with the highest peak surge
forecast to be between 10-15 feet in the Tampa Bay area south to Charlotte
Harbor. Areas south and north from the Nature Coast to the Everglades may
also expect possible storm surge impacts. Storm surge is a big deal;
complete preparations by today and listen to local officials on orders.
The threat of fresh water flooding from heavy rain has increased since
Monday. Most of the region around Tampa Bay to the east coast along and
north of the I4 corridor are under a High Risk for Excessive Rainfall and
represents a level 4/4 for the threat of widespread flooding. Rainfall
amounts of 6-12 inches, with localized totals up to 18 inches, are
expected across the Florida Peninsula through Thursday. River flooding
after the storm will also be a possibility. Moreover, the outer bands of
Milton will be capable of producing severe weather. The Storm Prediction
Center has much of central and south Florida under a Slight Risk on
Wednesday for the threat of tornadoes and waterspouts embedded in tropical
rainbands. Keep checking the latest forecast from the NHC, WPC, and your
local NWS forecast office for the most up-to-date information regarding
Milton including track, intensity, and impact information.
As for the rest of the country, the theme remains the pleasantly cool
eastern U.S. and the warm western and central U.S. High pressure and
ridging will be responsible for the heat out west. Many areas in the
Southwest could eclipse daily record highs for the month of October and
there will be commonplace high temperatures in the 95-110 F range.
Excessive Heat Warnings are active across the region. The Plains from
Texas to North Dakota will a fall sweat. High temperatures range in the
low to middle 90s across the Lone-star State and middle 80s approaching 90
by the middle of the week for the northern Great Plains. Some areas may be
more than 20 degrees above expected highs in October so bring out the sun
screen. Meanwhile, the east coast will be pleasant if not
chilly,especially around the New England area where some Frost Advisories
are in effect. Highs will be in the 70s and 60s, with lows in the 30s and
40s. Most of the areas will be dry, but the New England and Great Lakes
region may feel lake effect rain showers, perhaps some mixed precipitation
sprinkled in,and clouds as an upper trough persists through the middle of
the week. A Pacific front looks to bring showers to the Pacific Northwest
with high temperatues in 60s and lower 70s.
Wilder
Graphics available at
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php
