manilaplay South Florida under tropical storm warning as Milton nears Gulf Coast and winds pick up
As Category 4 Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida’s Gulf Coastmanilaplay, expected to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday, South Florida is already feeling the effects.
All of South Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties, was under a tropical storm warning Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service issues the warning when tropical storm conditions are expected within 48 hours.
There is a potential for wind up to 39 to 57 mph with a tropical storm warning.
The tropical storm warning, in effect through Thursday, is due to Hurricane Milton, which is carrying sustained winds of 145 mph and aiming for Florida’s Gulf Coast by late Wednesday. The powerful hurricane is expected to push a storm surge of up to 15 feet, anywhere between Fort Myers Beach and Cedar Key.
“It’s a major storm, and it is very important that we remain prepared as our community will be affected by the outer bands of the storm,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said at a press conference at the county’s Emergency Operations Center in Doral.
In her remarks, Levine Cava also told residents it was time to fortify home doors and windows ahead of Milton’s approach.
“Put up your hurricane shutters,” she said, citing guidance sent out by her office. “Fill your cars’ tanks with gasoline.”
READ MORE: Florida Gulf Coast remains in bullseye of ‘extremely dangerous’ Cat 4 Hurricane Milton
Areas under the tropical storm warning in South Florida include:
Miami-Dade County: Miami, Coral Gables, Kendall, Miami Springs, Hialeah, Cutler Bay, Homestead, Kendale Lakes, Country Walk, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, Redland, and Everglades National Park.
Broward County: Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Lauderdale Lakes, Sunrise, Tamarac, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach.
Monroe County: Flamingo, Cape Sable, Loop Road Islamorada, Key Largo, Ocean Reef, Key West, Sugarloaf Key, Big Pine Key, Marathon, Key Colony Beach, Layton
Palm Beach County: Boca West, Palm Springs, Florida Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Lion Country Safari, Belle Glade, Pahokee, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Juno Beach and Jupiter
A tropical storm warning is also in effect for Immokalee and Clewiston.
A flood watch remains in effect for all of South Florida through Thursday morning.
The worst flooding is expected to occur between late Wednesday into early Thursday morning. South Florida is at moderate risk for heavy rainfall from Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning, with 2 to 4 inches of rain possible, according to the National Weather Service.
Miami Herald writer Doug Hanks contributed to this report.
This story was originally published October 8, 2024manilaplay, 10:03 AM.