Active Weather Alerts
Small Craft Advisory
Issued: 3:18 PM Oct. 7, 2024 – National Weather Service
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...Northeast winds 15 to 25 kt and seas 5 to 7 ft. Winds increasine to 20 to 30 knots and seas building to 9 to 12 feet Wednesday night into Thursday. * WHERE...Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL out 20 NM and Waters from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL from 20 to 60 NM. * WHEN...Until 4 AM CDT Friday. * IMPACTS...A Small Craft Advisory means that wind speeds of 20 to 33 knots, or seas of 7 feet or greater, are expected to produce hazardous conditions for small craft. These hazardous conditions may result in poor vessel handling and steering response, broaching, overturned dinghies and kayaks, slips and falls on slippery decks, rub damage along docks and seawalls, and dragging anchors. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. &&
Tropical Weather Statement
Issued: 3:09 PM Oct. 7, 2024 – National Weather Service
This product covers eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia **MILTON CONTINUES TO RAPIDLY INTENSIFY. NOW A CATEGORY 4 MAJOR HURRICANE** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - None * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Coastal Dixie, Coastal Franklin, Coastal Jefferson, Coastal Taylor, Coastal Wakulla, Inland Dixie, Inland Taylor, and Lafayette * STORM INFORMATION: - About 690 miles southwest of Apalachicola or about 760 miles southwest of Tallahassee - 21.7N 91.7W - Storm Intensity 155 mph - Movement East-southeast or 110 degrees at 9 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ At 11 AM EDT, Hurricane Milton was rapidly intensifying over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico as it nears the Yucatan Peninsula. It reached Category 4 status around 9am EDT this morning. Milton is forecast to make landfall along the Florida west coast later on Wednesday or into early Thursday as a major hurricane. While Milton is currently a small hurricane the wind field is forecast to grow larger as it approaches the west coast of Florida. In addition, it will begin to interact with a cold front, which will help to increase winds on the northwest side of the circulation. Thus tropical storm conditions are possible across portions of the Apalachee Bay coastline, and into the southeast portions of the Florida Big Bend south and east of the Aucilla River. Note that gusty winds that may not reach tropical storm strength across much of the area, but they could still hamper recovery efforts from Helene and cause additional damage to weakened trees or structures. In addition to the wind threat, heavy rainfall is likely across the southeast Big Bend. As Milton interacts with the cold front, a band of heavy rain may materialize that could produce 4 to 7 inches of rain, with local amounts potentially higher across the lower Suwannee Valley. This could result in some localized flash flooding. There will be a very sharp cutoff in the higher rainfall amounts on the northwestern side of the Milton so any subtle shifts in track could bring higher, or lower amounts, of rainfall to those who reside along the current gradient of heavy rain which stretches from Perry to Valdosta with this advisory. Tornadoes and storm surge are currently not a concern with the forecast track of Milton. However, storm surge will be highly track dependent. Any shifts in the track northward may bring a storm surge threat into the southern areas of Apalachee Bay. With strong easterly flow ahead of the storm, there will at least be some potential for minor coastal flooding under 3 feet, mostly along any beaches with an east facing aspect. These would be beaches from Alligator Point to St. Marks. Dangerous marine conditions are also expected with building waves and strengthening winds. This will result in high surf and deadly rip currents along all area beaches for much of the upcoming week. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * WIND: Prepare for life-threatening wind having possible extensive impacts across teh southeast Florida Big Bend. Potential impacts in this area include: - Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some having window, door, and garage door failures leading to structural damage. Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed. Damage accentuated by airborne projectiles. Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks. - Many large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over. - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. Several bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable. - Large areas with power and communications outages. Also, prepare for dangerous wind having possible limited to impacts across the coast of the Apalachee Bay extending westwards towards the Indian Pass. Elsewhere across the eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, little to no impact is anticipated. * FLOODING RAIN: Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible extensive impacts across the southeast Florida Big Bend. Potential impacts include: - Major rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues. - Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places. Small streams, creeks, and ditches may become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. - Flood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out. Elsewhere across eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, little to no impact is anticipated. * SURGE: Prepare for locally hazardous surge having possible limited impacts across the Apalachee Bay. Potential impacts in this area include: - Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots, or in areas farther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore. - Sections of near-shore roads and parking lots become overspread with surge water. Driving conditions dangerous in places where surge water covers the road. - Moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf also breaching dunes, mainly in usually vulnerable locations. Strong rip currents. - Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings. Elsewhere across eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, little to no impact is anticipated. * TORNADOES: Little to no impacts are anticipated at this time across eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to check your emergency plan and emergency supplies kit and take necessary actions to protect your family and secure your home or business. When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging wind gusts, storm surge, and tornadoes extend well away from the center of the storm. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather Radio and local news outlets for official storm information. Listen for possible changes to the forecast. * ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov - For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org NEXT UPDATE ----------- The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Tallahassee FL around 530 PM EDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.
Rip Current Statement
Issued: 5:48 AM Oct. 7, 2024 – National Weather Service
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Bay County Beaches. * WHEN...Through late Thursday night. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. &&
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