9PM CDT Milton Update: Flash Flood Emergency Continues; High Winds Reported

Scott Brown | October 9, 2024 @ 9:08 pm

The Flash Flood Emergency for the Tampa Bay area continues. Additionally, very strong winds are occurring across the area.

Here is the messaging from the 9PM CDT NHC report:

Hurricane Milton Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL142024
1000 PM EDT Wed Oct 09 2024

…FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY IN EFFECT FOR THE TAMPA BAY AREA AS
MILTON CONTINUES MOVING INLAND…
…1000 PM EDT POSITION UPDATE…

A sustained wind of 69 mph (111 km/h) and a gust of 102 mph (165
km/h) was recently reported at the Sarasota-Bradenton International
Airport. A sustained wind of 86 mph (139 km/h) and a gust of 105 mph
(169 km/h) was recently reported at a WeatherFlow station at Egmont
Channel. A sustained wind of 74 mph (119 km/h) and a gust of 98 mph
(157 km/h) was recently reported at a NOS station at Middle Tampa
Bay. A gust of 91 mph (146 km/h) was recently reported at a Citizen
Weather Observer Program station in Bartow.

A Flash Flood Emergency is in effect for the Tampa Bay area,
including the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater.
Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg has received 16.61 inches
of rain so far today.

The next update will be the full advisory at 1100 PM EDT (0300
UTC).

SUMMARY OF 1000 PM EDT…0200 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————–
LOCATION…27.5N 82.3W
ABOUT 20 MI…30 KM NE OF SARASOTA FLORIDA
ABOUT 90 MI…145 KM SW OF ORLANDO FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…110 MPH…175 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…ENE OR 60 DEGREES AT 16 MPH…26 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…958 MB…28.29 INCHES

Milton’s maximum winds are around 110 mph currently, and the pressure is around 958 mb. This is upper level category 2 status. Milton should retain hurricane status the entire time it travels across Florida, meaning this will be a very dangerous situation until the system has completely moved into the Atlantic.

Very large amounts of rain has fallen in Central Florida. See the following social media posts below:

Exceptional rain affecting the Tampa area. Parts of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties are dealing with 80+ mph winds and >200 year (0.5% chance of annual occurrence) rainfall.

A lot of remnant debris from #Helene was still stacked on driveways in Pinellas. What a mess.#Milton pic.twitter.com/yxK1jyPxEr

— Steve Bowen (@SteveBowenWx) October 10, 2024

St. Petersburg has received an insane amount of rain — over 16″ in last 24 hours… but notably:
5.09″ fell between 8 and 9p alone, a 1-in-1,000 yr amount
Flash flood emergency for Tampa Bay area until 230a.
Some of the 24-hour rainfall amounts: pic.twitter.com/nk7hc0eIst

— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) October 10, 2024