CURRENT PORT STATUS:

 

All commercial, oceangoing vessels, barges over 500GT, and vessels deemed by the COTP to pose a significant threat to bridges/waterways are prohibited from entering the safety zone.  All ship-to-shore cargo operations are suspended, including bunkering and lightering.

 

YANKEE – MIAMI, PORT EVERGLADES

Prohibited Operations: • Inbound vessel transits are prohibited. • All oceangoing commercial vessels greater than 500 gross tons must have departed the ports and anchorages. • Cargo operations not associated with storm preparations are prohibited

 

X-RAY – NO PORTS CURRENTLY IN X-RAY

Oceangoing vessels greater than 500 GT ITC, including oceangoing tugs and barges greater than 500 GT ITC, already in port or arriving during PORT CONDITION X-RAY shall continue with preparations and safely depart the port before the setting of PORT CONDITION ZULU.

 

WHISKEY –SAVANNAH, CHARLESTON  - Port Condition Whiskey:  1.    Sustained tropical storm force winds (39-54 mph / 34-47 knots) are predicted to arrive within 72 hours.

a.    Take due diligence to prepare for potential storm impacts.

b.    Waterfront facilities shall begin removing all debris and secure potential flying hazards.

c.    Container stacking plans should be implemented. Waterfront facilities that, due to space constraints, are unable to reduce container stacking height to no more than four high (or no more than two high for hazardous materials), must submit a container stacking protocol to the COTP Miami for approval.

 

4/SEASONAL – WILMINGTON

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NHC UPDATE  - Hurricane Milton Advisory Number  20 - NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL142024  1100 PM EDT Wed Oct 09 2024

 

 

SUMMARY OF 1100 PM EDT...0300 UTC...INFORMATION

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LOCATION...27.6N 82.0W

ABOUT 75 MI...120 KM SW OF ORLANDO FLORIDA

ABOUT 100 MI...165 KM WSW OF CAPE CANAVERAL FLORIDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...105 MPH...165 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...ENE OR 60 DEGREES AT 16 MPH...26 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...960 MB...28.35 INCHES

 

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

 

 

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

 

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...

* Florida west coast from Flamingo northward to Anclote River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay

* Sebastian Inlet Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia, including the St. Johns River

 

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...

* Florida west coast from Bonita Beach northward to Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay

* Florida east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line northward to Ponte Vedra Beach

 

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Lake Okeechobee

* Florida east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to the Palm Beach/Martin County Line

 

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Florida Keys, including Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay

* Lake Okeechobee

* Florida west coast from Flamingo to south of Bonita Beach

* Florida west coast from north of Suwanee River to Indian Pass

* Florida east coast south of the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to Flamingo

* North of Ponte Vedra Beach Florida to Edisto Beach South Carolina

* Extreme northwestern Bahamas, including Grand Bahama Island, the Abacos, and Bimini

 

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

----------------------

At 1100 PM EDT (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Milton was located inland near latitude 27.6 North, longitude 82.0 West.  Milton is moving toward the east-northeast near 16 mph (26 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through Thursday, followed by a turn toward the east on late Thursday.  On the forecast track, the center of Milton will continue to move across the central part of the Florida peninsula overnight, and emerge off the east coast of Florida on Thursday.

 

Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph (165 km/h) with higher gusts.  Milton is forecast to maintain hurricane intensity while crossing Florida overnight.  After moving into the Atlantic, Milton is expected to gradually lose tropical characteristics and slowly weaken.

 

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 255 miles (405 km).  A sustained wind of 92 mph (148 km/h) and a gust of 107 mph (172 km/h) was recently reported at a UF Sentinel/WeatherFlow station in Venice.  A sustained wind of 58 mph (93 km/h) and a gust of 82 mph (131 km/h) was recently reported at Tampa International Airport.  A gust of 94 mph (152 km/h) was recently reported at a Citizen Weather Observer Program station in Bartow.  A sustained wind of 52 mph (84 km/h) and a gust of 77 mph (124 km/h) was recently reported at Winter Haven Regional Airport.

 

The estimated minimum central pressure is 960 mb (28.35 inches).

 

 

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

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Key Messages for Milton can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT4 and WMO header WTNT44 KNHC and on the web at hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT4.shtml

 

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.  The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...

 

Anna Maria Island, FL to Boca Grande, FL...9-13 ft

Boca Grande, FL to Bonita Beach, FL...8-12 ft

Charlotte Harbor...8-12 ft

Bonita Beach, FL to Chokoloskee, FL...5-8 ft

Chokoloskee, FL to Flamingo, FL...3-5 ft

Sebastian Inlet, FL to Altamaha Sound, GA...3-5 ft

Anclote River, FL to Anna Maria Island, FL...3-5 ft

Tampa Bay...3-5 ft

St. Johns River...2-4 ft

 

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the south of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.  Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances.   

 

RAINFALL: Rainfall amounts of 8 to 14 inches, with localized totals up to 18 inches, are expected across central to northern portions of the Florida Peninsula through Thursday.  This rainfall will continue to bring the risk of catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with moderate to major river flooding.

 

WIND: Hurricane conditions are occurring within the hurricane warning area and are spreading east-northeastward across the Florida peninsula.  Hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch area tonight and on Thursday.  Tropical storm conditions are occurring along the west coast of Florida and have already reached the east coast of Florida.  Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in the warning area along the Georgia and South Carolina coast on Thursday.

 

Tropical storm conditions are expected in portions of the northwestern Bahamas on Thursday.

 

TORNADOES: A tornado or two is possible through early Thursday morning over parts of central and eastern Florida.

 

SURF:  Swells generated by Milton are expected to continue to affect much of the Gulf Coast and will increase along the southeastern U.S. coast during the next day or two.  These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. 

 

NEXT ADVISORY

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BY NHC - Next intermediate advisory at 200 AM EDT.