Mor e details, latest watches and warning , spaghetti models, and expected impacts for Hurricane Milton can be found here. In a rush? Here's what you need to know in a minute.
While all eyes are watching Hurricane Milton on its way toward a Florida landfall , the National Hurricane Center also is tracking three other systems in the Atlantic basin.
Hurrica ne Milton is expected to make landfall along Florida's West Coast as a powerful storm with devastating storm surge Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
➤ Spaghetti models for Hurricane Milton
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Expect "potential major, major impacts," from Hurricane Milton, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
Depending on exactly where Milton makes landfall — and track and intensity aren't clear at this time — will affect who feels the worst effects from storm surge, which will be worst south of where the storm's eye comes ashore.
Mandatory evacuation orders under way in several counties and school closures around the state have been announced.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic basin are:
- Tropical Storm Leslie
- Broad area of low pressure east of Florida, near the Bahamas
- A tropical wave expected to move off the coast of Africa
Most of Florida under a state of emergency
Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 Florida counties ahead of Hurricane Milton: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia counties.
Hurricane Milton: What you need to know
In a hurry? Here's what you need to know about Hurricane Milton in less than a minute . Want more details?
➤ WeatherTiger: Got an evacuation order? 'Make a choice to save your life'
Hurricane Milton spaghetti models. Where will storm make Florida landfall?
Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
➤ Spaghetti models for Hurricane Milton
Where could Hurricane Milton make landfall in Florida?
AccuWeather is predicting Hurricane Milton will make landfall a few dozen miles of St. Petersburg along the west-central coast of Florida late Wednesday night, around 2 a.m. Thursday.
Don't relax if you live on Florida's East Coast. Milton is expected to still be a hurricane after crossing the state and moving into the Atlantic.
Watches and warnings issued for Florida, US
Tropical Storm Leslie: What you should know
➤ Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Leslie
What else is out there and how likely are they to strengthen?
Southwestern Atlantic: A non-tropical area of low pressure located just northeast of the northwestern Bahamas is producing gale-force winds.
This system could acquire some tropical or subtropical characteristics over the next day or so while the low moves northeastward to east-northeastward around 15 mph. Upper-level winds are likely to increase by Wednesday night, which should end any chances for further development.
- Formation chance through 48 hours: low, 20 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days: low, 20 percent.
Far eastern tropical Atlantic: A tropical wave is expected to move off the west coast of Africa in a day or two.
Afterward, environmental conditions appear only marginally favorable for some limited development of this systemwhile it moves westward or west-northwestward across the eastern tropical Atlantic, moving near the Cabo Verde Islands late Thursday through Friday.
- Formation chance through 48 hours : low, near 0 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days : low, 20 percent.
National Hurricane Center map: What are forecasters watching now?
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:
What do the colored areas on the NHC map mean?
The hatched areas on a tropical outlook map indicate "areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.
The colors make it visibly clear how likely a system could develop with yellow being low, orange medium and red high.
The National Hurricane Center generally doesn't issue tropical advisories until there is a named storm, but there is an exception.
"If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center won't wait before it issues advisories, even if the system hasn't become an actual storm. This gives residents time to prepare," Rhome said.
Excessive rainfall forecast
Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city
When is hurricane season over?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season was Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
What's next?
We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here .
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: National Hurricane Center tracking Hurricane Milton, 3 other systems. One is east of Florida
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