Tropical Cyclone Statement Issued
From
City of Hawthorne
Sent
Mon, Oct 7 @ 11:15am
Description
Tropical Cyclone Statement issued October 7 at 11:10AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
HLSJAX
This product covers Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia
**MILTON CONTINUING TO RAPIDLY INTENSIFY AND FORECAST TO BECOME A
CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE**
NEW INFORMATION
---------------
* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Hurricane Watch has been issued for Central Marion, Eastern
Marion, and Western Marion
- A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Gilchrist,
Southwestern Columbia, Suwannee, and Western Alachua
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Central Marion, Eastern
Marion, and Western Marion
- A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Gilchrist, Southwestern
Columbia, Suwannee, and Western Alachua
* STORM INFORMATION:
- About 870 miles southwest of Jacksonville FL or about 780 miles
southwest of Ocala FL
- 21.7N 91.7W
- Storm Intensity 155 mph
- Movement East-southeast or 110 degrees at 9 mph
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
Hurricane Milton is now a major hurricane in the southwestern Gulf
of Mexico. Milton will continue to rapidly strengthen as it moves
eastward and is predicted to make landfall along the west coast of
Florida sometime Wednesday evening. Milton is forecast to maintain
hurricane strength as it moves across the Florida Peninsula Wednesday
night.
Tropical storm force winds are expected to begin as early as Wednesday
morning across northeast Florida. Overall, sustained tropical storm
force winds are forecast for most of northeast Florida and the
southeast Georgia coast, with frequent hurricane force gusts possible
along the coast, St. Johns river basin, and north central Florida.
Storm surge inundation of 2 to 4 feet, with locally higher amounts up
to 5 feet is expected along the northeast Florida and southeast Georgia
Atlantic coasts and in the St Johns River basin.
Rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches, with locally higher amounts, are
expected across most of northeast Florida and the southeast Georgia
coast, with 2 to 6 inches forecast over most of inland southeast
Georgia. With already saturated grounds, flash flooding will be
possible mainly across northeast Florida and the southeast Georgia
coast beginning Tuesday night.
Isolated tornadoes are possible within the outer rainbands Wednesday
through Wednesday night over portions of northeast Florida, including
Marion, Putnam, Flagler, and St. Johns counties.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* WIND:
Prepare for life-threatening wind having possible extensive impacts
across northeast Florida and coastal southeast Georgia. 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, prepare for dangerous wind having possible limited to
significant impacts across inland southeast Georgia.
* SURGE:
Prepare for life-threatening surge having possible significant
impacts across the northeast Florida and southeast Georgia Atlantic coast
and the St. Johns River Basin. 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.
* FLOODING RAIN:
Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
extensive impacts across northeast Florida and the southeast Georgia
coast. Potential impacts include:
- Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues.
- Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in
multiple places. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches may
become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may
become stressed.
- Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple
communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed
away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes.
Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with
underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous.
Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.
Prepare for dangerous rainfall flooding having possible limited to
significant impacts across portions of inland southeast Georgia.
* TORNADOES:
Prepare for a tornado event having possible limited impacts across
north central Florida. Potential impacts include:
- The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution
of emergency plans during tropical events.
- A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power
and communications disruptions.
- Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys
toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned,
large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees
knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats
pulled from moorings.
Elsewhere across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, little to
no impact is anticipated.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------
* EVACUATIONS:
Follow the advice of local officials.
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
Now is the time to check your emergency plan and emergency supplies
kit and take necessary actions to protect your family and secure your
home or business.
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 in a place that is vulnerable to high wind, such as near large
trees, a manufactured home, upper floors of a high-rise building, or
on a boat, plan to move to safe shelter.
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, in a valley, or near an already swollen river, plan to
move to safe shelter on higher ground.
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.
When securing your property, outside preparations should be concluded
as soon as possible before conditions deteriorate. The onset of
strong gusty winds or flooding can cause certain preparedness
activities to become unsafe.
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. Keep cell phones handy and charged.
Check on those who may not be fully aware of the situation or who are
unable to make personal preparations.
If you are a visitor, know the name of the county or parish in which
you are located and where it is relative to current watches and
warnings. If staying at a hotel, ask the management staff about their
onsite disaster plan. Listen for evacuation orders, especially
pertaining to area visitors.
Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio and local news
outlets for official storm information. Listen for possible changes
to the forecast.
There is a threat from tornadoes with this storm. Have multiple ways
to receive Tornado Warnings. Be ready to shelter quickly.
* 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 Jacksonville FL around 530 PM EDT, or sooner if conditions
warrant.
This notification was posted by City of Hawthorne. City of Hawthorne is solely responsible for this notification and unless specifically indicated, no other community or individual utilizing Savvy Citizen is sponsoring, responsible for, or endorsing this notification.
