Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
158 PM EDT Mon Oct 7 2024

...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER...

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Thursday)
Issued at 156 PM EDT Mon Oct 7
2024

Major Hurricane Milton is now an extremely strong Cat 5 hurricane
with winds up to 175 mph. Milton will grow in size as it heads
towards the West Coast of Florida as a disastrous hurricane. Milton
is expected to weaken slightly but will still be a major Cat 3
hurricane at landfall with destructive damage expected on Wednesday.
Storm Surge along and south of the track will be life threatening
and catastrophic. If you are asked to evacuate you need to do so.
This storm surge will be life threatening. The high winds will also
cause widespread and major damage as the eyewall tracks through the
state. If you are outside of the storm surge area and decide to stay
you need to have supplies to last for a week or more without power
or water.

Bottom line: If Milton stays on its course this will be the most
powerful hurricane to hit Tampa Bay in over 100 years. No one in the
area has ever experience a hurricane this strong before.