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  19 - NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL142024  500 PM EDT Wed Oct 09 2024

 

 

 

SUMMARY OF 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION

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LOCATION...26.9N 83.4W

ABOUT 60 MI...100 KM WSW OF SARASOTA FLORIDA

ABOUT 170 MI...275 KM SW OF ORLANDO FLORIDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...120 MPH...195 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT...NE OR 35 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...28 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...948 MB...28.00 INCHES

 

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

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SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

 

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...

* Florida west coast from Flamingo northward to Yankeetown, 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

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At 500 PM EDT (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Milton was located near latitude 26.9 North, longitude 83.4 West.  Milton is moving toward the northeast near 17 mph (28 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue through tonight.  A turn toward the east-northeast is expected on Thursday, followed by a turn toward the east on Friday.  On the forecast track, the center of Milton will make landfall near or just south of the Tampa Bay region this

evening, 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 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher gusts.  Milton is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Milton could still be a major hurricane when it reaches the coast of west-central Florida this evening, and it will remain a hurricane while it moves across central Florida through Thursday.  Milton is forecast to weaken over the western Atlantic and become extratropical by Thursday night.

 

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 WeatherFlow site located in Egmont Channel (XEGM) recently reported a sustained wind speed of 51 mph (82 km/h) with a wind gust of 63 mph (102 km/h). A WeatherFlow site located on the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier (XSKY) recently reported a sustained wind speed of 47 mph (76 km/h) with a wind gust of 62 mph (100 km/h).

 

The minimum central pressure based on Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter data is 948 mb (28.00 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

Anclote River, FL to Anna Maria Island, FL...6-9 ft

Tampa Bay...6-9 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

Yankeetown, FL to Anclote River, FL...2-4 ft

Dry Tortugas...2-4 ft

St. Johns River...2-4 ft

 

RAINFALL: Rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches, with localized totals up to 18 inches, are expected across central to northern portions of the Florida Peninsula through Thursday.  This rainfall brings the risk of catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with moderate to major river flooding.

 

WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area across Florida this evening through Thursday morning and are possible in the hurricane watch area tonight and on Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are occurring along the west coast of Florida and are forecast to spread across the peninsula and reach the east coast this evening or tonight.  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: Several tornadoes, possibly including a few strong tornadoes, are likely this afternoon and tonight across parts of central and southern 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.  Please consult products from your local weather office.

 

 

NEXT ADVISORY

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