10/09/2024
National Hurricane Center's official forecast error cone tracking map for Hurricane Milton, published at 9 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Oct. 9.
The outer rain bands of Hurricane Milton began affecting the Florida Keys Wednesday morning and a tropical storm warning remains in effect for the island chain.
At 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, the center of the Category 4 storm was about 180 miles west, northwest of Key West, 225 miles west, northwest of Marathon and 260 miles west of Key Largo.
It was moving northeast at 16 mph with maximum winds at the center near 155 mph and higher gusts. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.
Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the Keys and all of South and most of Central Florida due to the possibility for isolated tornadoes through Wednesday night.
A tornado touched down at the U.S. Navy’s Truman Annex late Tuesday night. Damage assessments are underway.
Wednesday morning Chris Jacobson, a forecaster at the Florida Keys National Weather Service Office, said other potential impacts to the Keys include:
• Coastal saltwater flooding of 1 to 3 feet above ground level in low-elevation areas on the Gulf and Bayside from Wednesday afternoon through much of Thursday. Atlantic-facing shorelines are to continue to experience crashing waves and overwash through Wednesday night, potentially leading to saltwater flooding in the adjacent neighborhoods.
• About a 20 percent chance of lower-range sustained tropical storm-force winds of 39 to 50 mph. Those tropical storm-force winds likely will arrive late Wednesday afternoon. Tropical storm-force winds could linger into Thursday morning.
• Thundery squalls with localized wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph through Thursday morning. These squalls will also likely bring blinding downpours, and cause ponding of water on roadways and in low-lying spots.
• Additional rainfall around 1 inch, with localized totals up to 2 inches, through Thursday morning. Flooding of low-elevation streets and poor drainage areas will be possible in areas impacted by heavy downpours.
Residents and visitors in the Keys should continue to closely monitor the progress of Hurricane Milton. Actions to secure loose outdoor objects and boats from strong wind gusts and protect against possible flooding should be rushed to completion before noon Wednesday.
“While I’m sure people in the Keys are thankful that the catastrophic core of Milton is likely to pass well to the north of us, we still are likely to experience hazardous weather conditions,” said Monroe County Emergency Management Director Shannon Weiner. “So please stay safe, be smart and remain indoors and off roads and the water.
“And don’t forget about our neighbors to the north who are about to deal with an extremely dangerous storm,” she added.
Another Milton tourism advisory is to be issued later today.