Tropical Storm Milton Intensifies, Threatening Florida’s West Coast

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued an advisory detailing the rapid intensification of Tropical Depression 14 into Tropical Storm Milton, with projections that it could become a major hurricane as it approaches Florida‘s west coast. On Saturday, forecasters from the NHC noted that Milton is expected to rapidly strengthen over the next 36 hours.

Tropical Storm Milton is currently located in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and is predicted to traverse the south-central Gulf by Monday before reaching Florida by midweek. Forecasts suggest wind speeds could reach up to 110 mph as the storm nears the west coast of the Florida Peninsula on Wednesday, bringing the risk of life-threatening weather conditions to these areas.

The deputy director of the National Hurricane Center, Jamie Rhome, warned on Saturday that the time for residents to prepare is narrowing. “You really have the rest of today, tomorrow, and Monday,” Rhome stated during a briefing. Heavy rainfall, which may result in damaging and disruptive urban flooding, is forecast for central and South Florida from Sunday through the middle of the next week, with rainfall accumulations anticipated to be between 4-8 inches, and some areas possibly seeing totals up to 12 inches.

In anticipation of the storm’s impact, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued alerts for several counties across the state. Residents have been advised to ready their hurricane plans and stay informed through official notices and updates. The potential for storm surge and high winds causing structural damage is a significant concern, with maximum sustained winds possibly reaching up to 120 mph upon landfall.

Meanwhile, over the open Atlantic, Hurricane Kirk has been classified as a Category 3 hurricane by the NHC. Kirk’s swells are forecasted to impact the East Coast of the United States over the weekend. In another development, Tropical Storm Leslie has gained Category 1 hurricane strength in the east Atlantic, but it is not expected to influence land directly.

The NHC is also observing a tropical wave off the eastern coast of Africa, which has a 30% chance of developing into a more substantial system over the next week.