Hurricane Milton Local Statement Advisory Number 19
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL AL142024
524 PM EDT Wed Oct 9 2024

This product covers West Central and Southwest Florida

**MAJOR HURRICANE MILTON NEARS TAMPA BAY WITH EXPECTED LANDFALL TONIGHT**

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for
Coastal Charlotte, Coastal Citrus, Coastal Hernando, Coastal
Hillsborough, Coastal Lee, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Pasco,
Coastal Sarasota, Inland Lee, and Pinellas
- A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Coastal Levy, DeSoto,
Hardee, Highlands, Inland Charlotte, Inland Citrus, Inland
Hernando, Inland Hillsborough, Inland Levy, Inland Manatee,
Inland Pasco, Inland Sarasota, Polk, and Sumter

* STORM INFORMATION:
- About 60 miles southwest of Mouth of Tampa Bay FL
- 26.9N 83.4W
- Storm Intensity 120 mph
- Movement Northeast or 35 degrees at 17 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

Milton remains a powerful and very dangerous major hurricane located
just 60 miles north of the mouth of Tampa Bay and already bringing
devastating to life-threatening impacts across parts of West Central
and Southwest Florida. This will continue through early Thursday. Extremely
life-threatening, catastrophic storm surge impacts are expected along the
coast with destructive winds extending from the coast to inland locations
along with heavy rainfall with possible flash flooding along with the
threat of tornadoes.

* Storm Surge - Life threatening storm surge is expected Wednesday
into Thursday. Potential peak surge amounts are 9 to 13 feet from Anna
Marie Island to Boca Grande, 6 to 9 feet from the Anclote River to Anna
Marie Island including Tampa Bay, 8 to 12 feet from Boca Grande to Bonita
Beach including Charlotte Harbor, and 2 to 4 feet from Anclote River to Yankeetown.

* Rain - Flooding rain threat will run from Wednesday through Thursday
with rainfall amounts of 5 to 12 inches with locally higher amounts up
to 18 inches possible.

* Wind - Hurricane and tropical storm force winds will be possible
beginning on Wednesday with the highest probabilities along the coast.

* Tornadoes - Isolated tornadoes are possible Wednesday into Thursday
across the area.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* SURGE:
Potential impacts from the main surge event are now unfolding across
West-Central Florida, and Southwest Florida. Remain well away from life-threatening
surge having possible devastating impacts. If realized, these impacts include:
- Widespread deep inundation, with storm surge flooding greatly
accentuated by powerful battering waves. Structural damage to
buildings, with many washing away. Damage greatly compounded
from considerable floating debris. Locations may be
uninhabitable for an extended period.
- Near-shore escape routes and secondary roads washed out or
severely flooded. Flood control systems and barriers may become
stressed.
- Extreme beach erosion. New shoreline cuts possible.
- Massive damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers.
Numerous small craft broken away from moorings with many lifted
onshore and stranded.

Elsewhere across West Central and Southwest Florida, little to no
impact is anticipated.

* WIND:
Potential impacts from the main wind event are now unfolding across
West-Central Florida, and Southwest Florida. Remain well sheltered from
life-threatening wind having possible devastating
impacts. If realized, these impacts include:
- Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof
and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage
greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations
may be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
- Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and
roadway signs blown over.
- Many roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
or heavily wooded places. Many bridges, causeways, and access
routes impassable.
- Widespread power and communications outages.

Potential impacts from the main wind event are also now unfolding
across Nature Coast. Remain well sheltered from
life-threatening wind having possible limited to
extensive impacts.

* FLOODING RAIN:
Potential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across
Nature Coast, West-Central Florida, and Southwest Florida. Remain well guarded against
life-threatening flood waters having additional devastating impacts.
If realized, these impacts include:
- Extreme rainfall flooding may prompt numerous evacuations and
rescues.
- Rivers and tributaries may overwhelmingly overflow their banks
in many places with deep moving water. Small streams, creeks,
canals, and ditches may become raging rivers. Flood control
systems and barriers may become stressed.
- Flood waters can enter numerous structures within multiple
communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
away. Numerous places where flood waters may cover escape
routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of raging water
with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become very
dangerous. Numerous road and bridge closures with some weakened
or washed out.

Potential impacts from the flooding rain are still unfolding across
Nature Coast, West-Central Florida, and Southwest Florida. Remain well
guarded against life-threatening flood waters having additional
significant to extensive impacts.

* TORNADOES:
Potential impacts from tornadoes are still unfolding across West-Central Florida,
and Southwest Florida. Remain well braced against a particularly
dangerous tornado event having additional extensive
impacts. If realized, these impacts include:
- The occurrence of numerous tornadoes can greatly hinder the
execution of emergency plans during tropical events.
- Many places may experience tornado damage with a few spots of
immense destruction, power loss, and communications failures.
- Locations could realize roof and wall failures of sturdy
buildings with some being leveled, structures upon weak
foundations blown away, mobile homes obliterated, large trees
twisted and snapped with forested trees uprooted, vehicles
lifted off the ground and thrown, and boats destroyed. Large
and deadly projectiles can add to the toll.

Potential impacts from tornadoes are still unfolding across West-Central Florida,
and Southwest Florida. Remain well braced against a dangerous tornado
event having additional limited to significant
impacts.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------

* EVACUATIONS:
Follow the advice of local officials.

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to stay inside and away from windows. Listen for
updates and be ready in case you lose electrical power. Keep a
battery-powered radio, charged cell phone and flashlight handy.

During the peak of the storm be ready to move quickly. Keep your
shoes on and rain gear handy. Boots and athletic shoes offer the best
foot protection if you become unexpectedly exposed to the weather.

Keep your cell phone charged and in power-saving mode. If you lose
power, use it sparingly and mainly for personal emergencies and
check-ins.

Do not venture outside while in the eye of a hurricane as any
improvement in weather will only be temporary. Once the eye passes,
conditions will become life threatening as winds immediately return
to dangerous speeds, so remain safely sheltered from the storm.

Do not be a thrill seeker or risk your life for senseless photos or
videos.

Quickly move to the safest place within your shelter if it begins to
fail, preferably an interior room on the lowest floor as long as
flooding is not a concern.

If you are prone to flooding or in an area under a storm surge watch
or warning, be prepared for the possibility of a quick and dramatic
rise in water levels.

If a tornado warning is issued for your area, quickly move to the
safest place within your shelter. Protect your head and body.

If an Extreme Wind Warning is issued for your area, move to the
safest place within your shelter. Take the same life-saving actions
as if it were a violent tornado.


* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
- For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
- For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org

NEXT UPDATE
-----------

The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather
Service in Tampa Bay Ruskin FL around 12 AM, or sooner if conditions
warrant.

$$