What is storm surge? Understanding the difference between surge and inundation What’s open and closed as Hurricane Milton looms
The Weather Authority What is storm surge? Understanding the difference between surge and inundation Hurricane Milton is placing the entire state of Florida at risk; however, impacts from the storm can be attributed to several factors.
What’s open and closed as Hurricane Milton looms As Hurricane Milton gains momentum toward the west coast of Florida, services and businesses in Southwest Florida are adjusting their hours or closing temporarily.
SWFL schools affected due to Milton Southwest Florida schools are responding ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival.
WINK NEWS List of shelters in SWFL ahead of Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches, shelters are opening across Southwest Florida to provide safety and refuge for residents.
Lee County to hold news conference regarding Hurricane Milton Lee County officials are set to hold a news conference regarding Hurricane Milton.
Tallahassee Gov. DeSantis issues State of Emergency to 51 counties ahead of Milton Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Tallahassee.
PORT CHARLOTTE ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte evacuations ahead of Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte has released its evacuation plans ahead of the storm.
Fatal crash involving a semi-truck on I-75S The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred on Interstate 75 southbound near Bonita Beach Road.
Milton downgrades to Category 4, heavy impacts expected in SWFL The Weather Authority is continuing to track Hurricane Milton, which continues to be a major hurricane even as it was downgraded slightly.
SANIBEL Sanibel evacuates as flooding and storm surge threaten island Sanibel is already dealing with flooding from the heavy rain we’ve seen over the past few days, and Milton is expected to bring 10 feet of storm surge to the island.
ENGLEWOOD Manasota Key residents scramble ahead of Hurricane Milton Parts of Manasota Key are already unrecognizable from the damage Helene caused, and now, with Milton on the way, people are heartbroken and wondering what the future holds.
FORT MYERS SHORES ‘We’re getting the heck out of here’ 416,000 in mandatory evacuation zone in Lee Co. Around 416,000 residents in Lee County are under a mandatory evacuation order that went into effect Monday at noon because of Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS Downtown Fort Myers businesses prepare for Hurricane Milton Business owners in downtown Fort Myers are getting their businesses ready for whatever Hurricane Milton will bring.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral isn’t offering sandbags, but one Cape Coral local is One Cape Coral resident saw a need during Hurricane Milton and decided to do something about it.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach braces for Hurricane Milton after Helene WINK News’ team coverage brings us to Fort Myers Beach, an area prone to storm surge and still recovering from Helene.
The Weather Authority What is storm surge? Understanding the difference between surge and inundation Hurricane Milton is placing the entire state of Florida at risk; however, impacts from the storm can be attributed to several factors.
What’s open and closed as Hurricane Milton looms As Hurricane Milton gains momentum toward the west coast of Florida, services and businesses in Southwest Florida are adjusting their hours or closing temporarily.
SWFL schools affected due to Milton Southwest Florida schools are responding ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival.
WINK NEWS List of shelters in SWFL ahead of Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches, shelters are opening across Southwest Florida to provide safety and refuge for residents.
Lee County to hold news conference regarding Hurricane Milton Lee County officials are set to hold a news conference regarding Hurricane Milton.
Tallahassee Gov. DeSantis issues State of Emergency to 51 counties ahead of Milton Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Tallahassee.
PORT CHARLOTTE ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte evacuations ahead of Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, ShorePoint Health Port Charlotte has released its evacuation plans ahead of the storm.
Fatal crash involving a semi-truck on I-75S The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred on Interstate 75 southbound near Bonita Beach Road.
Milton downgrades to Category 4, heavy impacts expected in SWFL The Weather Authority is continuing to track Hurricane Milton, which continues to be a major hurricane even as it was downgraded slightly.
SANIBEL Sanibel evacuates as flooding and storm surge threaten island Sanibel is already dealing with flooding from the heavy rain we’ve seen over the past few days, and Milton is expected to bring 10 feet of storm surge to the island.
ENGLEWOOD Manasota Key residents scramble ahead of Hurricane Milton Parts of Manasota Key are already unrecognizable from the damage Helene caused, and now, with Milton on the way, people are heartbroken and wondering what the future holds.
FORT MYERS SHORES ‘We’re getting the heck out of here’ 416,000 in mandatory evacuation zone in Lee Co. Around 416,000 residents in Lee County are under a mandatory evacuation order that went into effect Monday at noon because of Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS Downtown Fort Myers businesses prepare for Hurricane Milton Business owners in downtown Fort Myers are getting their businesses ready for whatever Hurricane Milton will bring.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral isn’t offering sandbags, but one Cape Coral local is One Cape Coral resident saw a need during Hurricane Milton and decided to do something about it.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach braces for Hurricane Milton after Helene WINK News’ team coverage brings us to Fort Myers Beach, an area prone to storm surge and still recovering from Helene.
Credit: The Weather Authority The Weather Authority is continuing to track Hurricane Milton, which continues to be a major hurricane even as it was downgraded slightly. According to the National Hurricane Center’s 8 a.m. Tuesday update, Milton remains a Category 4 storm. Winds are currently at 145 mph, and the storm is moving at 12 mph east-northeast, about 545 miles southwest of Tampa. Please note that Milton is expected to re-intensify into a Category 5 storm on Tuesday and downgrade into a Category 3 storm by Wednesday due to wind shear. It will be tough to determine where Milton makes landfall because it will wobble on its approach to the coast of Florida on Wednesday. Right now, Southwest Florida is within the cone where the center of the storm can track, and we should all be preparing for a major hurricane that will land on Wednesday night. Please prepare, as we will see greater impacts than we saw with Helene. Watches and Warnings A storm surge warning has been issued from the Volusia/Brevard County Line northward to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River, including the St. Johns River. A hurricane warning has been issued for the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach northward to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay. A hurricane watch has been issued for the Florida west coast from Chokoloskee to south of Bonita Beach and Lake Okeechobee. Breaking it Down Hurricane Hunters found that Milton was strengthening in the Gulf Monday morning. Max wind speed has increased and pressures are dropping. Conditions in the short term, including lower shear, will allow for gradual or even rapid intensification as it heads across the Gulf of Mexico over the next few days. The official forecast calls for a Major Hurricane, with intensity models currently showing Category 3-5 at peak. As Milton approaches the west coast of Florida, it will be entering an area with more wind shear, and minor weakening will be possible up through landfall. The Weather Authority Meteorologist Zach Maloch said, “The storm is now moving east, northeast of the Yucatan Penisula. This now Category 4 hurricane, Milton, remains an extremely dangerous storm. Wind shear is expected to weaken the storm slightly before it reaches landfall as a Category 3 storm.” Storm Surge Threat Life-threatening storm surges will hit Southwest Florida on Wednesday, and the surges will be greater than those we saw with Helene. Five-10 feet of surge is forecast for Lee and Charlotte Counties, and 4-7 feet of surge is forecast for Collier County If you are told to evacuate, please do so! You do not have to go far, so move farther inland to a shelter or a friend’s home. Storm Size This storm will not be as big as Helene, which had a tropical storm-force wind field over 450 miles long. Current projections for Milton’s tropical storm-force wind field will be around 325 miles long or wide. It is still a formidable storm. Remember that the maximum wind speed is only contained in a small part of the storm and not throughout the entire storm. For those who see those max winds, however, it will be very damaging. Storm motion The forward motion at landfall will be close to 14-15 mph, not as slow as Hurricane Ian but not as fast as Hurricane Helene. The storm will make landfall on Wednesday. You have Monday and Tuesday to either evacuate if you are told to do so or prepare your homes for impactful weather on Wednesday. Review your hurricane plan and put that plan into action. Here’s a link to the WINK News Hurricane Guide for helpful information as Milton approaches SWFL: winknews.com/hurricane-guide-2024.