The eye of Hurricane Milton has moved past the Florida peninsula and is exiting the east coast after traveling overnight from near the Tampa Bay area east toward Orlando and Cape Canaveral. The storm, currently a Category 1 hurricane, continues to impact parts of the coast with onshore winds that have the potential to generate tornadoes along Florida’s Treasure Coast. Wind gusts of up to 83 mph have been recorded in Daytona Beach, highlighting the intensity of the storm.
While the eye of the hurricane moves away, the threat of storm surge remains, with projections of up to 4 feet along the coast as the storm progresses. Heavy rainfall is also a concern, with some areas experiencing significant amounts of rain in a short period. Flash flooding has been reported in Hillsborough County, extending north and east toward Orlando, where flood warnings are still in effect.
The combination of inland flooding and storm surge poses a serious risk of prolonged flooding in the affected areas. The excess water from inland flooding, trying to drain towards the coast through rivers and creeks, coupled with the incoming storm surge, could exacerbate the flooding situation. It is anticipated that the flooding may persist until the hurricane moves further away from the region.
