After weakening briefly, Hurricane Milton rebounded Tuesday into a dangerous Category 5 hurricane expected to pummel the Gulf Coast of Florida and bring damaging winds and rain to the Jacksonville area.
Maximum sustained winds were measured near 165 mph Tuesday afternoon. Milton was 480 miles southwest of Tampa, moving at 9 mph.
The projection for winds in Northeast Florida increased Tuesday. The National Weather Service forecasts winds of 58 to 73 mph across much of the area and 74 to 110 mph along the St. Johns County coast.
Milton is expected to turn to the northeast and increase speed slightly as it bears down on the Tampa Bay area Wednesday night, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm will likely remain at hurricane strength as it crosses the state to the East Coast late Wednesday and into Thursday.
Tropical storm-force winds could arrive in the Jacksonville area Wednesday evening, the Hurricane Center said.
A hurricane warning remained in effect Tuesday evening from St. Lucie County north to Ponte Vedra Beach. The rest of Northeast Florida remained under a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning.
JEA warned Monday afternoon that it could take longer than usual to restore power because thousands of its utility crews remain in the Southeast after Hurricane Helene.
What does Milton mean for Jax area?
It’s too early to pinpoint the exact location Milton will make landfall. Minor fluctuations to the north or south of the current path will have large implications for Milton’s ultimate landfall and impacts.
Jacksonville lay outside the forecast cone as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, but shifts in the storm’s expected path are likely Wednesday.
The cone represents the potential path of the storm’s center; it is not intended to represent all areas that could be affected. Damaging effects are possible well outside the cone.
The Hurricane Center said it adjusted the cone slightly southward Tuesday afternoon, but forecasters warned that projections can be off by 60 nautical miles with the storm still 36 hours away.
Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 30 miles from the center of Milton at 5 p.m., and the storm was expected to double in size by the time it makes landfall. Tropical storm-force winds extended outward up to 140 miles, the Hurricane Center said.
Heavy rainfall will pose a mounting threat for flash flooding this week. Milton is expected to bring 5 to 12 inches Northeast Florida, with Putnam and St. Johns counties likely to see the highest totals, the Weather Service said.
The Hurricane Center predicts at least a 15% chance of flash flooding around Jacksonville but up to 40% farther south. A storm surge of 3 to 5 feet is foreast along the coast and Intracoastal Waterway and 2 to 4 feet in the St. Johns River Basin.
Deteriorating coastal and marine conditions, including a high risk of rip currents along the Atlantic Coast, and tidal flooding are also expected, especially within the St. Johns River basin.
Already weakened trees and limbs from Helene could lead to additional tree damage, the forecast says.
Jacksonville
Mayor Donna Deegan said Monday that flooding and storm surge will be the main concerns during Hurricane Milton. Winds could be similar to Hurricane Helene, but flooding could be a bigger problem because the ground is already saturated, she said.
The city has not ordered evacuations, but residents in manufactured homes, older homes and low-lying areas, especially with a heavy tree canopy, are encouraged to find a safer location or shelter.
Shelters: The following shelters will open at 8 a.m. Wednesday:
- Atlantic Coast High School , 9735 R. G. Skinner Parkway, open for special medical needs, pet-friendly.
- Chaffee Trail Elementary , 11400 Sam Caruso Way,) open for general population.
- The Legends Center , 5130 Soutel Drive, open for general population and special medical needs, and pet-friendly.
- Landmark Middle , 101 Kernan Blvd., open for general population, pet-friendly.
- LaVilla School of the Arts , 501 N. Davis St., open for general population.
- Arlington Middle School , 8141 Lone Star Road, open for general population.
Schools: Duval County Public Schools announced they will close from Wednesday through Friday.
Parking: The following city-owned garages will be open Downtown starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday through Friday at no charge:
- Water Street, 541 Water Street.
- Ed Ball Building, 238 W. Monroe St.
- Yates Building, 200 E. Adams St.
- Duval Street, 33 W. Duval St.
JTA also will also open its Kings Avenue Garage, at 1201 Kings Ave., for free.
JTA: JTA will continue regular operations Wednesday and Thursday as long as it is safe. The last trip for the St. johns River Ferry will be at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. As in the past, JTA will offer free rides to the city’s six shelters. It also will operate a shuttle from flood-prone Ken Knight Drive to the Legends Center starting Wednesday. Pickups will be every 15 to 30 minutes at the corner of Ken Knight Drive and Moncrief, Bus Stop No. 3991.
Garbage collection: Due to the volume of debris received from Hurricane Helene, some yard waste pickups are behind schedule. People are asked not to put any new storm debris on the curb at this time. Waste collection will remain on schedule Tuesday and as long as it’s safe on Wednesday. All collections will be suspended Thursday. Thursday collection for garbage and recycling will be rescheduled to Saturday. Friday collection is expected to occur as normal.
Power: JEA announced Sunday that it is continuing its suspension of disconnections for non-payment, begun after Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago, in light of the new storm.
To report power outages during Milton:
- Visit jea.com/outage to view JEA’s Electric Outage Map and report an electric or water outage
- Call (904) 665-6000 to use the automated system
- Text OUT to 69532 (MyJEA)
Blood collection: LifeSouth Community Blood Centers and OneBlood are urging the community to give blood now to help prepare, as blood collections will be affected during and after the storm. Donating ensures blood will be available to help patients suffering from traumas, cancers and chronic illnesses. All blood types are needed, especially type O donors and platelet donors.
For additional information, keep an eye on jaxready.com for updates from Duval County emergency managers.
Clay County
Clay County was preparing for flooding along Black Creek and the St. Johns River. No evacuations have been ordered, but people in low-lying areas and along Black Creek and the St. Johns were encouraged to relocate.
Shelters: Four shelters will open at 6 a.m. Wednesday:
- Orange Park High (pet friendly).
- Keystone Elementary (pet friendly).
- Lake Asbury Junior High (special needs).
- Wilkinson Elementary.
Schools: Clay County schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday.
Garbage pickup: Garbage and yard waste collections will be picked up Tuesday. FCC Environmental Services, the county’s new trash company, will pick up bagged and containerized yard waste. Crews will run pickups on Wednesday as long as it’s safe.
Sandbags: The county will offer sandbags from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Sandbags are limited to 10 per person and are first come, first served and DIY. Shovels are not provided.
The county will continue to offer bags until they are gone or if it becomes unsafe for employees to be outside. The county will refill the sites as needed.
Sandbag locations:
- Eagle Harbor Sports Complex, 4387 Lakeshore Drive, Fleming Island.
- 25 Roderigo Ave., Green Cove Springs.
- Orange Park Sports and Recreational Park, 1086 Fromhart St., Orange Park.
- Middleburg-Clay Hill Omega Park, 4317 County Road 218, Middleburg.
- Keystone Heights, across from City Hall, 555 S. Lawrence Blvd., Keystone Heights.
St. Johns County
St. Johns County order the evacuation of the entire city of St. Augustine as well as St. Augustine Beach and residents living on waterfront properties or in flood-prone areas.
Residents living in boats, RVs, mobile homes and low-lying flood-prone areas are also required to evacuate.
The order will take effect at 8 a.m. Wednesday, the same time that emergency shelters will open.
Schools: St. Johns County schools will be closed Wednesday through Friday.
Garbage collection: Recycling collection is suspended through Friday. County officials said resouces will be redirected to collecting yard waste. Garbage collection will remain on its regular schedule.
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