Chip Barnett

Retired Business News Reporter and Editor

[Mike's Weather Page @tropicalupdate]

Milton has absolutely went bonkers. Now a CAT 4 150mph Major Hurricane. Some models showed a CAT 5 now we might actually see that. Weakening is expected. But how much. Should we even say weakening at this point as it nears Florida. Significant impacts regardless. https://t.co/0EQMEw6Iu0

[Paul Dellegatto⚡️FOX @PaulFox13]

Models all called for rapid intensification today, and they sure were right. 5 am, max winds were 100 mph. 9 am, max winds were 150 mph. #Milton will weaken some as it nears our coastline, but will bring with it a very dangerous storm surge and powerful winds that will move inland with the storm.

[Matt Devitt @MattDevittWX]

EVACUATION ORDER: Charlotte County Emergency Management has issued evacuation orders for residents in the Red and Orange zones, also know as Zones A and B. This evacuation also includes residents in any zone living in mobile and manufactured homes. Take this storm surge threat seriously. Don't take a chance with this storm. If you're told to leave, PLEASE do so.

[Tampa International Airport ✈️ @FlyTPA]

🚨 TPA TO CLOSE DUE TO MILTON 🚨

🛑 We will suspend flight operations at 9 a.m. Tuesday and reopen when safe to do so

✈️ Check directly with your airline for flight updates

⛈️ TPA is not a shelter for people or vehicles

📲 Stay tuned to our social media for more info

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Governor DeSantis Provides Update #3 on Hurricane Milton at State Emergency Operations Center https://t.co/IGP3nt8NkQ

[AccuWeather @accuweather]

Over 6 million people are under a Hurricane Watch in west-central Florida, including the entire Tampa area, ahead of Hurricane Milton, which intensified to a Category 4 storm on Monday morning.

Live updates: https://t.co/bglSh1a7Nz

[Mike's Weather Page @tropicalupdate]

NHC surge map for Milton. Showing some incredibly high numbers for a large part of the Florida west coast. If verifies it will be highest surge for the Tampa Bay area since the 1921 Hurricane. So many will be dealing with flooding once again up and down the coast. https://t.co/0EQMEw6Iu0

[Matt Devitt @MattDevittWX]

#BREAKING: Milton is now a Category 4 with winds of 150 mph as it rapidly intensifies in the Gulf of Mexico according to data from the Hurricane Hunters. Pressure is at 940 mb and falling. #Milton

[The Weather Channel @weatherchannel]

BREAKING: Milton has rapidly strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane. Stay tuned to The Weather Channel for live updates.

[Paul Dellegatto⚡️FOX @PaulFox13]

Quick morning update:

#Milton is now a major hurricane per data just in from NOAA hurricane hunters. Top winds are 120 mph.

Hurricane watches and storm surge watches are up for our west coast.

The initial storm surge forecast from NHC is for an 8 to 12 foot storm surge from the Anclote River to Englewood. This forecast will likely change and will be refined once we have a better sense of the landfall point. Remember, the surge will be much higher south of the landfall point and much much lower north of the landfall point.

There is high confidence that the hurricane will cross our peninsula, but there remains large model spread in both the timing and the landfall point.

Milton is already a major hurricane and further intensification is likely today. Some weakening is expected before landfall, but Milton will be a powerful hurricane as it moves onshore. The storm will bring strong and damaging winds inland as the storm moves towards the east coast.

Here’s the problem. We are running out of time when it comes to decision making. We don’t know the exact landfall point, so when it comes to evacuations, you should assume a worst case scenario. This is a different set-up than Helene, when we had high confidence on the storm surge heights because the storm paralleled our west coast and we were not trying to determine a landfall point in our west coast.

I’ll keep you posted every step of the way.

[Sarasota County Government @SRQCountyGov]

When heading to an evacuation center, prepare your checklist of items. All evacuation centers are pet-friendly, but you must bring all supplies including a crate. Remember: evacuation centers cannot provide chairs, bedding, cots, blankets or pet supplies.

[Sarasota County Government @SRQCountyGov]

Update 9:20 a.m. Oct. 7: An evacuation order is in place for Levels A and B, manufactured communities or a mobile or boat home. Those living in level C should be prepared to evacuate if the storm intensifies.

[Jim Cantore @JimCantore]

#Milton continues well on its way to a strengthening hurricane that will have Helene winds and maybe more at its peak. The hurricane should weaken before landfall, but push a very strong windfield with power outages well inland from west to east do to angle of approach.

Guidance still has wiggle room in terms of landfall. Storm surge will be maximized to the south of the center which has huge implications for Tampa and anyone beaten up by Helene with debris still sitting in their front yards. This will make any travel or rescue impossible in an expanding debris field when the hurricane comes in.

Hotels are packed and some will have to be evacuated. You will likey have to evacuate farther than usual because of hotel occupancy. Gas will likely be in short supply. Get inland to a safe place and give Florida a chance to reset or you will be part of a likely gridlock out, and then back in. See you in Tampa in the morning.

[Mike's Weather Page @tropicalupdate]

00z models are running now. This is crazy. HAFS-A showing 895mb pressure!!! And 00z GFS still showing north of Tampa Bay. Lots to watch in the AM after overnight runs run. Live at 9:19am ET. https://t.co/Hk3pbO84Yf

[Mike's Weather Page @tropicalupdate]

Milton is rapidly intensifying tonight. Seeing an eye starting to peak. https://t.co/Hk3pbO84Yf

[10 Tampa Bay News @10TampaBay]

'EXTENDED OUTAGES': As Hurricane Milton nears Florida's west coast, Tampa Electric is urging their customers to prepare for "extended outages." https://t.co/kdNlfzKhsz

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

The Florida National Guard, Florida State Guard, FDOT, and FHP are all hands on deck to supplement local debris removal in preparation for Hurricane Milton.

Additionally, the Division of Emergency Management is coordinating with local emergency management directors to inform them that debris waste and landfill sites have been ordered to remain open 24/7.

Debris removal must be done 24/7, around the clock. This process cannot be a 9 to 5 job, and we expect local governments and their contractors to show up.

[The Weather Channel @weatherchannel]

Milton is expected to become a major hurricane when it reaches Florida's west coast this week. Our hurricane expert @DrRickKnabb has the latest on timing and impacts:

[Paul Dellegatto⚡️FOX @PaulFox13]

I'll be on @FOX13News at 10 pm and 11 pm with latest on Milton.
Waiting for data to come in from recon, but based on satellite imagery Milton continues to organize.
Couple of important points.
As bad as #Debby and #Helene were, #Milton is completely different. Both of those storms paralleled our coast. Neither made landfall here. Milton will make landfall on our west coast as a powerful hurricane. That means the core, the strongest winds, will move onshore and will move inland in tandem with the storm.
Everyone had storm surge from Helene and Debby. Milton will bring a higher surge, but not everyone along the coast will experience the surge. Only areas from the point of landfall to the south will have the highest surge. North of the landfall point, the surge will be significantly lower.
Helene is fresh in your mind. You saw what the water did. Take this storm seriously. If told to evacuate. Evacuate. If you are in a mobile home you should evacuate to a well built structure. I have been asked this a lot. What if you are not in an evacuation zone? Say you live in New Tampa and you want to leave? That is a personal decision. My general rule is that it is best to stay in your home if it is well built and you are not told to evacuate. Some people just do not want to go through the storm, and that is fine. Just understand that you will be part of a massive evacuation with people who are fleeing the potential storm surge. You may end up in a spot that gets it worse than what you would have experienced if you stayed. Everyone has their own situation. I completely understand the desire to leave. The choice is yours.
I will be with you through the entire event. We will get through this together.

[Paul Dellegatto⚡️FOX @PaulFox13]

The storm surge set-up will be completely different than what we saw from Helene. Helene paralleled our west coast. There was high water everywhere. #Milton will make landfall on our west coast, so the surge will likely be HIGHER (10 feet +) than that from Helene and will occur from the point of landfall and to the SOUTH. There will be much less surge to the north of the landfall point.