765  
WTUS82 KMFL 091541  
HLSMFL  
FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-092345-  
 
HURRICANE MILTON LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 18  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL AL142024  
1141 AM EDT WED OCT 9 2024  
 
THIS PRODUCT COVERS SOUTH FLORIDA  
 
**TORNADIC SUPERCELLS FROM MILTON BEGINNING TO SWEEP ACROSS THE  
SOUTHERN FLORIDA PENINSULA**  
 
NEW INFORMATION  
---------------  
 
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- NONE  
 
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- A STORM SURGE WARNING, TROPICAL STORM WARNING, AND HURRICANE  
WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL COLLIER COUNTY  
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FOR  
GLADES, HENDRY, AND INLAND COLLIER COUNTY  
- A STORM SURGE WARNING AND TROPICAL STORM WARNING ARE IN EFFECT  
FOR MAINLAND MONROE  
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL BROWARD  
COUNTY, COASTAL MIAMI DADE COUNTY, COASTAL PALM BEACH COUNTY,  
FAR SOUTH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, INLAND BROWARD COUNTY, INLAND  
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, INLAND PALM BEACH COUNTY, METRO BROWARD  
COUNTY, METRO PALM BEACH COUNTY, AND METROPOLITAN MIAMI DADE  
 
* STORM INFORMATION:  
- ABOUT 250 MILES WEST OF MIAMI FL OR ABOUT 160 MILES WEST OF  
NAPLES FL  
- 25.8N 84.3W  
- STORM INTENSITY 145 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTHEAST OR 35 DEGREES AT 17 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
HURRICANE MILTON REMAINS A MAJOR HURRICANE OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN  
GULF OF MEXICO. IT IS FORECAST TO REMAIN AT MAJOR HURRICANE STRENGTH  
AS IT APPROACHES THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA LATER TONIGHT.  
 
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS OF CONCERN WITH HURRICANE MILTON  
FOR SOUTH FLORIDA:  
 
* STORM SURGE - THERE IS AN INCREASING RISK OF DANGEROUS STORM SURGE  
FOR PORTIONS OF THE FLORIDA GULF COAST. 5 TO 8 FEET OF STORM SURGE  
OVER PORTIONS OF COASTAL COLLIER COUNTY AND 3 TO 5 FEET OVER PORTIONS  
OF MAINLAND MONROE COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY.  
 
* WIND - THE HIGHEST PROBABILITIES FOR SUSTAINED HURRICANE AND  
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL BE ALONG THE GULF COAST OF SOUTHWEST  
FLORIDA, INCLUDING GLADES, HENDRY AND COLLIER COUNTIES, AS WELL AS THE  
ADJACENT GULF WATERS. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS  
THE REST OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INCLUDING THE ATLANTIC COAST AND ADJACENT  
ATLANTIC WATERS, ESPECIALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH MILTON'S RAINBANDS.  
THE PEAK OF THE WINDS WILL GENERALLY OCCUR TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY.  
 
* TORNADOES - SEVERAL TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY  
THURSDAY MORNING, WITH THE HIGHEST CHANCES ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE  
WESTERN FLORIDA PENINSULA.  
 
* RAINFALL - HEAVY RAINFALL LEADING TO POSSIBLE FLOODING IS EXPECTED  
ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA THROUGH THURSDAY. 1 TO 3 INCHES OF ADDITIONAL  
RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS TIME PERIOD WITH LOCALIZED HIGHER  
AMOUNTS. A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR HENDRY, GLADES, AND COLLIER  
COUNTIES THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. FLASH FLOODING CANNOT BE RULED OUT  
IN THESE AREAS.  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
-----------------  
 
* SURGE:  
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE  
IMPACTS ACROSS COASTAL SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS  
AREA INCLUDE:  
- LARGE AREAS OF DEEP INUNDATION WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING  
ACCENTUATED BY BATTERING WAVES. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS,  
WITH SEVERAL WASHING AWAY. DAMAGE COMPOUNDED BY FLOATING  
DEBRIS. LOCATIONS MAY BE UNINHABITABLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD.  
- LARGE SECTIONS OF NEAR-SHORE ESCAPE ROUTES AND SECONDARY ROADS  
WASHED OUT OR SEVERELY FLOODED. FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS AND  
BARRIERS MAY BECOME STRESSED.  
- SEVERE BEACH EROSION WITH SIGNIFICANT DUNE LOSS.  
- MAJOR DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS, AND PIERS. MANY  
SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS, ESPECIALLY IN  
UNPROTECTED ANCHORAGES WITH SOME LIFTED ONSHORE AND STRANDED.  
 
ALSO, PROTECT AGAINST LOCALLY HAZARDOUS SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE  
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ACROSS FAR SOUTH MIAMI DADE COUNTY ALONG FLORIDA  
BAY.  
 
* WIND:  
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING WIND HAVING POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE  
IMPACTS ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN  
THIS AREA INCLUDE:  
- CONSIDERABLE ROOF DAMAGE TO STURDY BUILDINGS, WITH SOME HAVING  
WINDOW, DOOR, AND GARAGE DOOR FAILURES LEADING TO STRUCTURAL  
DAMAGE. MOBILE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED, WITH SOME DESTROYED.  
DAMAGE ACCENTUATED BY AIRBORNE PROJECTILES. LOCATIONS MAY BE  
UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS.  
- MANY LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED ALONG WITH FENCES AND  
ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.  
- SOME ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBAN  
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. SEVERAL BRIDGES, CAUSEWAYS, AND  
ACCESS ROUTES IMPASSABLE.  
- LARGE AREAS WITH POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES.  
 
ALSO, PROTECT AGAINST DANGEROUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED TO  
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ACROSS THE REST OF SOUTH FLORIDA.  
 
* TORNADOES:  
PROTECT AGAINST A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS TORNADO EVENT HAVING  
POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE IMPACTS ACROSS PORTIONS OF COLLIER, GLADES, HENDRY,  
AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES.  
POTENTIAL 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 SMALL BOATS DESTROYED.  
LARGE AND DEADLY PROJECTILES CAN ADD TO THE TOLL.  
 
PROTECT AGAINST A DANGEROUS TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT  
IMPACTS ACROSS THE REST OF SOUTH FLORIDA.  
 
* FLOODING RAIN:  
PROTECT AGAINST DANGEROUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE  
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. POTENTIAL  
IMPACTS INCLUDE:  
- MODERATE RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT SEVERAL EVACUATIONS AND  
RESCUES.  
- DITCHES AND CANALS MAY QUICKLY BECOME SWOLLEN WITH SWIFT  
CURRENTS AND OVERSPILL THEIR BANKS IN A FEW PLACES, ESPECIALLY  
IN USUALLY VULNERABLE SPOTS.  
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER SOME STRUCTURES OR WEAKEN FOUNDATIONS.  
SEVERAL PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE EXPANDED AREAS OF RAPID  
INUNDATION AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE  
AREAS. SOME STREETS AND PARKING LOTS TAKE ON MOVING WATER AS  
STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS OVERFLOW. DRIVING CONDITIONS  
BECOME HAZARDOUS. SOME ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES.  
 
PROTECT AGAINST LOCALLY HAZARDOUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE  
LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS THE REST OF SOUTH FLORIDA.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS  
----------------------------------  
 
* EVACUATIONS:  
* FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS.  
 
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:  
IF YOU ARE RELOCATING TO SAFE SHELTER, LEAVE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.  
ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION. MANY ROADS AND BRIDGES  
WILL BE CLOSED ONCE STRONG WINDS ARRIVE. CHECK THE LATEST WEATHER  
FORECAST BEFORE DEPARTING AND DRIVE WITH CAUTION.  
 
STORM SURGE IS THE LEADING KILLER ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORMS AND  
HURRICANES! MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN A SAFE AREA AWAY FROM THE SURGE  
ZONE. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT IN A SURGE-PRONE AREA, YOU COULD FIND  
YOURSELF CUTOFF BY FLOOD WATERS DURING AND AFTER THE STORM. HEED  
EVACUATION ORDERS ISSUED BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES.  
 
IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA, BE READY TO SHELTER  
QUICKLY, PREFERABLY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND IN AN INTERIOR ROOM NOT  
PRONE TO FLOODING. IF DRIVING, SCAN THE ROADSIDE FOR QUICK SHELTER  
OPTIONS.  
 
CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER.GOV, NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS  
FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. BE READY TO ADAPT TO POSSIBLE CHANGES  
TO THE FORECAST. ENSURE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS TO RECEIVE WEATHER  
WARNINGS.  
 
* 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 MIAMI FL AROUND 5 PM EDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.  
 
 
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