MIAMI – The National Hurricane Center upgraded Tropical Depression 14 on Saturday into Milton, a tropical storm forecasted to strengthen into a hurricane that will impact Florida.
Milton was moving slowly northeastward over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. According to NHC, it will move across the warm waters of the south-central Gulf on Monday and Tuesday, and continue to strengthen into a major hurricane before landing in western Florida and crossing the state to move over the Atlantic.
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Heavy rainfall is highly likely on Tuesday and Wednesday in South Florida. NHC meteorologists expect it to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane — likely affecting mostly the areas of Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville.
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Milton is “forecast to remain over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico through Sunday night, then move across the south-central Gulf of Mexico on Monday and Tuesday, and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by midweek.”
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Rapid strengthening is forecast during the next few days. The tropical storm is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by early Monday. The system could become a major hurricane across the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico.
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Watches and Warnings
There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect on Saturday afternoon.
Interests in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, and the northwestern Bahamas should monitor the progress of this system.
Hurricane and storm Surge watches will likely be required for portions of Florida on Sunday.
Land hazards
The system may produce rainfall of 2 to 4 inches in western Cuba.
Areas of heavy rainfall will also impact portions of Florida Sunday and Monday with heavy downpours more directly related to the system by later Tuesday through Wednesday. This rainfall brings the risk of flash, urban, and areal flooding, along with minor to isolated moderate river flooding.
Swells generated by the system will begin to affect the coast of the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. These swells are expected to spread northward and eastward along much of the Gulf Coast by early next week.
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