659  
WTUS82 KMLB 091540  
HLSMLB  
FLZ041-044>046-053-058-141-144-154-159-164-247-254-259-264-347-447-547-647-747-092345-  
 
HURRICANE MILTON LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 18  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL AL142024  
1140 AM EDT WED OCT 9 2024  
 
THIS PRODUCT COVERS EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA  
 
**A RARE AND HISTORIC EVENT UNFOLDING ACROSS PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA**  
**MILTON IS FORECAST TO BRING DEVASTATING AND LIFE-THREATENING IMPACTS  
FROM HURRICANE WINDS AND HIGH TO EXTREME FLOODING RAINFALL**  
**TORNADO RISK INCREASING TODAY ACROSS EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA**  
 
NEW INFORMATION  
---------------  
 
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- NONE  
 
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:  
- A STORM SURGE WARNING AND HURRICANE WARNING ARE IN EFFECT FOR  
COASTAL VOLUSIA, NORTHERN BREVARD BARRIER ISLANDS, AND SOUTHERN  
BREVARD BARRIER ISLANDS  
- A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL INDIAN RIVER,  
COASTAL SAINT LUCIE, INLAND INDIAN RIVER, INLAND NORTHERN  
BREVARD, INLAND SAINT LUCIE, INLAND SOUTHERN BREVARD, INLAND  
VOLUSIA, MAINLAND NORTHERN BREVARD, MAINLAND SOUTHERN BREVARD,  
NORTHERN LAKE, OKEECHOBEE, ORANGE, OSCEOLA, SEMINOLE, AND  
SOUTHERN LAKE  
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FOR  
COASTAL MARTIN AND INLAND MARTIN  
 
* STORM INFORMATION:  
- ABOUT 290 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CAPE CANAVERAL FL  
- 25.8N 84.3W  
- STORM INTENSITY 145 MPH  
- MOVEMENT NORTHEAST OR 35 DEGREES AT 17 MPH  
 
SITUATION OVERVIEW  
------------------  
 
AS OF 11 AM, MAJOR HURRICANE MILTON WAS LOCATED IN THE SOUTHEASTERN  
GULF OF MEXICO ABOUT 190 MILES SOUTHWEST OF TAMPA, OR ABOUT 275 MILES  
SOUTHWEST OF MELBOURNE, FLORIDA. MILTON REMAINS A DANGEROUS AND  
POWERFUL HURRICANE WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 145 MPH, AND WAS  
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 17 MPH DIRECTLY TOWARD CENTRAL FLORIDA.  
 
MILTON IS FORECAST TO MAKE LANDFALL AS A MAJOR HURRICANE ALONG THE  
WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA COAST AROUND MIDNIGHT, AND THEN PUSH INLAND TO  
CROSS THROUGH EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA WHILE MAINTAINING HURRICANE  
STRENGTH. IT WILL THEN EXIT OFFSHORE ON THURSDAY. MILTON WILL BRING  
THE THREAT OF DAMAGING HURRICANE WINDS AND GUSTS, AS WELL AS  
SIGNIFICANT FLOOD AND FLASH FLOOD WATERS. THE THREAT TO LIFE IS HIGH!  
THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE IN VICINITY OF THE INTERSTATE 4 CORRIDOR,  
AND ALONG AND TO THE NORTH OF MILTON'S TRACK.  
 
PEOPLE AND INTERESTS WITHIN EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA ARE STRONGLY ADVISED  
TO RUSH TO COMPLETION ALL PREPARATIONS FOR A POTENTIALLY RARE AND  
HISTORIC EVENT WITH LIFE-THREATENING RAMIFICATIONS. FINAL  
PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING LIFE! DO NOT TRUST IN  
LUCK!  
 
IF YOU ARE VULNERABLE TO HIGH WINDS AND FLOOD WATERS, THE TIME TO MOVE  
TO SAFE SHELTER IS NOW! TIME IS GROWING SHORT, AND CONDITIONS WILL  
CONTINUE TO STEADILY DETERIORATE TODAY! CONDITIONS WILL THEN BECOME  
MORE DANGEROUS TONIGHT AND THURSDAY AS THE LOCAL IMPACT PHASE GETS  
MORE FULLY UNDERWAY. PEOPLE SHOULD NOT GO THROUGH THIS STORM ALONE,  
NOR SHOULD THEY RISK THEIR LIFE OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS.  
 
HURRICANE WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA,  
EXCEPT MARTIN COUNTY, WHERE A HURRICANE WATCH AND TROPICAL STORM  
WARNING ARE IN EFFECT. ACTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT AGAINST  
DAMAGING HURRICANE WINDS AND GUSTS. LARGE AREAS WILL LIKELY EXPERIENCE  
SIGNIFICANT POWER OUTAGES AND COMMUNICATIONS FAILURES.  
 
A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA COUNTIES.  
RAINFALL BETWEEN 6 TO 12 INCHES IS FORECAST, WITH A SWATH OF 12 TO  
15 INCHES POSSIBLE IN VICINITY OF THE I-4 CORRIDOR. LOCALIZED PEAK  
AMOUNTS OF 18 INCHES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. WATER RESCUES MAY BE NEEDED IN  
THE HARDEST HIT LOCATIONS. FARTHER SOUTH, THE FORECAST CALLS FOR 4 TO  
6 INCHES OF RAIN.  
 
FLOODING RAINFALL WILL ALSO CAUSE RAPID RISES ON AREA CREEKS AND  
STREAMS. THE SAINT JOHNS RIVER AT ASTOR IS FORECAST TO RISE QUICKLY TO  
MAJOR FLOOD STAGE BY THURSDAY MORNING WITH A HISTORICAL CREST NEAR  
RECORD FLOOD. ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS UPSTREAM ON THE SAINT JOHNS ARE  
ALSO LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE RISES TO AT LEAST MINOR OR MODERATE FLOOD  
STAGE THROUGH SATURDAY, AND POSSIBLY REACHING MAJOR FLOOD LEVELS AT  
DELAND AND GENEVA BY SUNDAY.  
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF THE AREA INCLUDING  
MARTIN, SAINT LUCIE, INDIAN RIVER, OKEECHOBEE, AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES.  
THE TORNADO WATCH WILL LIKELY BE EXPANDED NORTHWARD LATER TODAY.  
LISTEN FOR ANY TORNADO WARNINGS WHILE HURRICANE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS ARE  
BEING FINALIZED. A FEW TORNADOES COULD BE STRONG PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT  
DAMAGE!  
 
A STORM SURGE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL BREVARD BARRIER ISLANDS AND  
COASTAL VOLUSIA COUNTY WHERE COASTAL FLOOD WATERS OF 3 TO 5 FEET ARE  
POSSIBLE. SIGNIFICANT BEACH AND DUNE EROSION IS LIKELY. HEIGHTS UP TO  
3 FEET WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG THE TREASURE COAST.  
 
ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS!  
 
POTENTIAL IMPACTS  
-----------------  
 
* WIND:  
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING WIND HAVING POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE  
IMPACTS ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE I-4 CORRIDOR, TO OKEECHOBEE AND SAINT  
LUCIE COUNTIES. 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 SIGNIFICANT  
IMPACTS ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF EAST-CENTRAL FLORIDA.  
 
* FLOODING RAIN:  
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE  
DEVASTATING IMPACTS ACROSS AREAS NORTH OF A KISSIMMEE TO TITUSVILLE  
LINE. POTENTIAL 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. IN MOUNTAIN  
AREAS, DEADLY RUNOFF MAY RAGE DOWN VALLEYS WHILE INCREASING  
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ROCKSLIDES AND MUDSLIDES. 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.  
 
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE  
LIMITED TO EXTENSIVE IMPACTS ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF EAST CENTRAL  
FLORIDA.  
 
* TORNADOES:  
PROTECT AGAINST A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS TORNADO EVENT HAVING  
POSSIBLE EXTENSIVE IMPACTS ACROSS MUCH OF EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA.  
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.  
 
* SURGE:  
PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT  
IMPACTS ACROSS THE IMMEDIATE VOLUSIA AND BREVARD COUNTY COASTLINES.  
POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:  
- AREAS OF INUNDATION WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING ACCENTUATED BY  
WAVES. DAMAGE TO SEVERAL BUILDINGS, MAINLY NEAR THE COAST.  
- SECTIONS OF NEAR-SHORE ESCAPE ROUTES AND SECONDARY ROADS BECOME  
WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT, ESPECIALLY IN USUALLY VULNERABLE LOW  
SPOTS.  
- MAJOR BEACH EROSION WITH HEAVY SURF BREACHING DUNES. STRONG AND  
NUMEROUS RIP CURRENTS.  
- MODERATE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS, AND PIERS.  
SEVERAL SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS, ESPECIALLY IN  
UNPROTECTED ANCHORAGES.  
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS  
----------------------------------  
 
* EVACUATIONS:  
FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS.  
 
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:  
WHEN MAKING SAFETY AND PREPAREDNESS DECISIONS, DO NOT FOCUS ON THE  
EXACT FORECAST TRACK SINCE HAZARDS SUCH AS FLOODING RAIN, DAMAGING  
WIND GUSTS, STORM SURGE, AND TORNADOES EXTEND WELL AWAY FROM THE  
CENTER OF THE STORM.  
 
IF YOU LIVE IN A PLACE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO FLOODING, SUCH AS  
NEAR THE OCEAN OR A LARGE INLAND LAKE, IN A LOW-LYING OR POOR  
DRAINAGE AREA, OR NEAR AN ALREADY SWOLLEN RIVER, URGENTLY  
PLAN TO MOVE TO SAFE SHELTER ON HIGHER GROUND.  
 
BE SURE TO LET FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS KNOW OF YOUR INTENTIONS FOR  
WEATHERING THE STORM AND YOUR WHEREABOUTS. HAVE SOMEONE LOCATED AWAY  
FROM THE THREATENED AREA SERVE AS YOUR POINT OF CONTACT. SHARE VITAL  
CONTACT INFORMATION WITH OTHERS.  
 
ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMPLY WITH ORDERS THAT  
ARE ISSUED. DO NOT NEEDLESSLY JEOPARDIZE YOUR LIFE OR THE LIVES OF  
OTHERS.  
 
* 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 MELBOURNE FL AROUND 6 PM EDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS  
WARRANT.  
 

 
 
SHARP/LAW  
 
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