Hurricane Milton exits Florida, but effects persist on First Coast

After tearing across Florida, Hurricane Milton was moving off the East Coast early Thursday, but effects could linger in the Jacksonville area for days.

Heavy rainfall, flooding and gusty winds are expected through the day Thursday. A flood watch is in effect until 6 p.m., with the potential of flash flooding along the coast and St. Johns River.

Torrential rain in Central Florida will likely cause considerable flooding downstream along the St. Johns River, and storm surge along the Atlantic Coast and the St. Johns and its waterways is likely through at least this evening.

The Weather Service warned of the heaviest effects, including flash flooding and wind damage, from St. Johns County south.

About 19% of electric customers remained without power this morning in St. Johns County, according to poweroutage.com .

JEA reported 8,192 customers without power, under 2%.

Milton’s path

Hurricane Mlton remained a Category 1 hurricane as it exited Florida near Cape Canaveral after making landfall about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday near Siesta Key.

The storm left destruction from the Tampa Bay area across the state. Winds of more than 100 mph shredded the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg and caused the collapse of a crane at a high-rise construction site. One of multiple tornado outbreaks killed several people in a retirement community in Fort Pierce.

The National Hurricane Center said at 5 a.m. that there was a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the coast of Northeast Florida, from east-central Florida north to southern Georgia.

Hurricane-force winds, especially in gusts, will continue for a few hours, forecasters said. People were encouraged to remain in an interior room and away from windows.

The National Weather Service said winds will continue through the day near 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said Wednesday evening that the city can expect street flooding at peak times during the storm and during high tides on Thursday, Friday and potentially into next week.

People were warned to stay out of the water at the beaches.

The post Hurricane Milton exits Florida, but effects persist on First Coast appeared first on Jacksonville Today .