Milton tears through Florida overnight; part of SC under tropical storm warning

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/AP) - Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds at around 120 mph, the National Hurricane Center says.

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The storm made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County, Florida, bringing powerful winds, deadly storm surge and potential flooding to much of the state. The storm was also bringing deadly storm surge to much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, including densely populated areas such as Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Fort Myers.

Milton drew fuel from exceedingly warm Gulf of Mexico waters, twice reaching Category 5 status.

Portions of the South Carolina coastline are under a tropical storm warning as now Category 1 Hurricane Milton batters Florida.

Live 5 First Alert Chief Meteorologist Bill Walsh said the biggest impact for the Lowcountry, based on current computer models, will be high tides and tidal flooding caused by onshore winds on Thursday afternoon and overnight into early Friday morning. Tides of up to 8.2 feet are expected which can cause major flooding in low-lying areas.

The Lowcountry can also expect low-end wind effects and rainfall. Most tropical-storm-force winds above 39 mph will be along the coastal waters, he said.

Milton quickly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane Monday and has both weakened and restrengthened in the time since. Central pressure in the eye of Hurricane Milton fell to a near-record low Monday night. The National Hurricane Center says the storm poses an “extremely serious threat” to Florida.

At 8 a.m. Thursday, the center of Hurricane Milton was located inland near latitude 28.9 North, longitude 79.5 West, about 75 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Milton is moving toward the east-northeast near 18 mph and this general motion is expected to continue through Thursday followed by a turn toward the east on later in the evening.

Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph with higher gusts. Milton maintained hurricane intensity while crossing Florida overnight. After moving into the Atlantic, Milton is expected to gradually lose tropical characteristics and slowly weaken.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 980 mb or 28.94 inches.

Portion of SC coast included in watches issued

The National Hurricane Center issued multiple watches and warnings for the monster storm:

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 storm surge warning is in effect for:

• Florida west coast from Bonita Beach northward to Middle of Longboat Key, including Charlotte Harbor
• Sebastian Inlet Florida to Altamaha Sound Georgia, including the St. Johns River

A hurricane warning is in effect for:

• 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 Altamaha Sound Georgia
• Extreme northwestern Bahamas, including Grand Bahama Island, the Abacos, and Bimini

Milton, which had only just become a Category 2 hurricane early Monday morning, made rapid gains to earn major hurricane status over the course of a couple of hours and reached Category 5 strength later the same day.

As the storm continues to close in on Florida, residents are running out of time to evacuate and forecasters for the National Hurricane Center say Milton is forming tornadic supercells that are starting to sweep across Florida’s southern peninsula.

“Now is the time to rush to complete all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings,” one forecaster warned Floridians in the path.

Storm surges are expected to get between 10 and 15 feet above ground in parts of Florida’s west coast, an event that is certain to cause catastrophic damage to those areas.

Hurricane Leslie remains in the Atlantic

Leslie was a little stronger on Wednesday but is expected to reach stronger upper-level winds on Thursday.

At 5 p.m. Wednesday, the center of Hurricane Leslie was located near latitude 22.2 North, longitude 49.0 West, about 955 miles east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands.

Leslie is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph. A turn toward the north and north-northeast is forecast during the next couple of days.

Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is possible through Wednesday night, followed by weakening through early next week.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 mile.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 982 mb or 29.00 inches.

Hurricane season lasts through Nov. 30.