Hurricane Milton continues to strengthen toward Florida and is expected to make landfall by midweek

There are currently three active hurricanes, but the focus is on Hurricane Milton as it heads toward Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Milton

Hurricane and storm surge watches may be required for parts of Florida late Sunday.

The center of Hurricane Milton was located near latitude 22.5 north and longitude 94.0 west by an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft. Milton is moving east at about 6 mph (9 km/h) and this general movement is expected today. An east-northeastward movement is forecast on Monday, followed by a faster northeastward movement on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Milton is expected to make landfall on the Gulf side of Florida by midweek.

Currently, maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 130 km/h (80 mph), with stronger gusts.

Milton is forecast to strengthen rapidly over the next few days and become a major hurricane on Monday. It is currently Category 1.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 20 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 988 mb (29.18 in), based on Air Force dropsonde data. Some models show the storm decreasing in pressure to a category three hurricane as it moves northeast toward Florida.

EFFECTS

RAIN: Precipitation forecasts are currently 2 to 12 inches. Minor accumulation begins in southeast Georgia and increases near Flagler, Putnam and Volusia counties. The chance of flash flooding is between 15 and 40 percent, with southeast Georgia having the lowest risk and counties south of I-10 and along the coast seeing the greater changes.

WIND: As of Sunday, there is a 10 to 40 percent chance of tropical storm-force winds as Hurricane Milton makes landfall. Tropical storm-force winds are blowing at least 39 miles per hour, lasting at least 60 seconds, and reaching speeds of up to 73 miles per hour. Anything above 73 miles per hour is considered hurricane force winds. The arrival time of the winds could begin as early as late Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning, well before the eye reaches land.

Hurricane Kirk

SURF: Kirk-generated waves impact the Leeward Islands, Bermuda, the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas and the East Coast of the United States. These waves will continue to spread northward along the east coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada today and to the Azores on Monday. These waves can create life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult your local weather office products.

Hurricane Leslie

Has no threat to landing.

Current disruption

Far Eastern Tropical Atlantic:

A tropical wave is expected to move off the west coast of Africa in a few days. Some development of this system is possible thereafter as it moves west or west-northwest across the eastern tropical Atlantic. The system is expected to move near or over the Cape Verde Islands on Wednesday and Thursday, and interests there should monitor its progress.* 48-hour formation probability… low… near 0 percent.* Formation probability above 7 days. ..low…30 percent.

LOCAL FORECAST

Rain will remain light to moderate in southeast Georgia and northeast Florida through the evening.

Temperatures will fall to the mid to low 70s Sunday evening, with winds between 5 and 7 mph coming from the northeast. Clouds will remain tonight. By midnight Monday, rainfall totals will be 0.75 inches.