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, PORT CANAVERAL, JACKSONVILLE

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  15 - NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL142024  400 PM CDT Tue Oct 08 2024

 

 

SUMMARY OF 400 PM CDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION

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LOCATION...22.7N 87.5W

ABOUT 320 MI...520 KM WSW OF THE DRY TORTUGAS

ABOUT 480 MI...775 KM SW OF TAMPA FLORIDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...165 MPH...270 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...ENE OR 75 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...918 MB...27.11 INCHES

 

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

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

 

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

 

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...

* Florida west coast from Flamingo northward to Suwannee 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 Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...

* North of Altamaha Sound Georgia to Edisto Beach South Carolina

 

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...

* Dry Tortugas

* Lake Okeechobee

* Florida west coast from Chokoloskee to south of Bonita Beach

* Florida east coast north of Ponte Vedra Beach to the mouth of the St. Marys River

* 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...

* Dzilam to Cancun Mexico

* 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 Altamaha Sound Georgia

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

 

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* North of Altamaha Sound Georgia to South Santee River South Carolina

 

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

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

At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Milton was located near latitude 22.7 North, longitude 87.5 West.  Milton wobbled earlier today, but the longer-term motion is toward the east-northeast near 9 mph (15 km/h).  A turn toward the northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected to begin tonight and continue through early Thursday.  A turn toward the east-northeast and east is expected on Thursday and Friday.  On the forecast track, the center of Milton will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico through Wednesday, make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida Wednesday night, and move off the east coast of Florida over the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday.

 

Satellite images indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 165 mph (270 km/h) with higher gusts.  Milton is a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Fluctuations in intensity are likely while Milton moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but Milton is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida Wednesday night.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 918 mb (27.11 inches).

 

NEXT ADVISORY

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BY NHC - Next intermediate advisory at 700 PM CDT.