Tropical Storm “Milton” forms, forecast to strike Florida as a hurricane
Tropical Storm “Milton” formed in the Gulf of Mexico at 17:25 UTC on October 5, 2024, as the 13th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. The current forecast track takes it right toward Florida, strengthening into a hurricane before making landfall.
Satellite image of Tropical Storm "Milton" at 16:50 UTC on October 5, 2024. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers
At the time of formation, the center of Milton was located approximately 355 km (220 miles) north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico, and 590 km (365 miles) west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico.
The system had maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph), with higher gusts, and was moving slowly north-northeast at 6 km/h (3 mph). The storm’s minimum central pressure was estimated at 1 006 hPa.
The current forecast calls for strengthening in the coming days and Milton is expected to reach hurricane strength before striking central Florida’s west coast next week.
Areas of heavy rainfall will also impact portions of Florida on Sunday and Monday, October 5 and 6, well ahead of the tropical system, with heavy rainfall more directly related to the system expected by later Tuesday through Wednesday, October 9.
This rainfall brings the risk of flash, urban, and areal flooding, along with minor to isolated moderate river flooding.
Residents in the affected areas are advised to monitor updates and prepare for severe weather conditions.
Milton is expected to produce 50 to 100 mm (2 to 4 inches) of rainfall across parts of the northern Yucatan Peninsula and western Cuba.
Swells generated by the system will begin affecting the coast of the southwestern Gulf of Mexico today. These swells are expected to extend northward and eastward along much of the Gulf Coast by early next week, creating life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
References:
1 Tropical Storm Milton Tropical Cyclone Update – NWS/NHC -October 5, 2024
2 Tropical Depression Fourteen Advisory Number 1 – NWS/NHC – October 5, 2024
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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