BREAKING Hurricane Milton

[Zorak]

Here we go again...

As of now, its forecast to hit Tampa, potentially as a major hurricane, then go right up I-4 through Orlando and out at about Daytona. The center looks to go within a few miles of my house, and we're probably getting out of Dodge on Tuesday afternoon or thereabouts. Depending on how he tracks, it could be a near worst case for Tampa with a significant surge in an area that just got pummeled by a surge two weeks ago with Helene.

Stay safe out here!

 

[NationalTitles18]

Stay safe!

 

[Zorak]

oof…

 

[Zorak]

Track keeps wobbling, but most recent (red) looks like it’ll make a pass within 5 miles of my house (which is, of course, essentially a direct hit). Getting out of Dodge in the morning.

Also saw it was just upgraded to Cat-5. Likely to weaken, but it looks to still be pretty nasty along the I-4 Corridor especially and throughout the peninsula for sure. Precisely why we’re booking it to Atlanta, our first, second, and third evacuation areas (Gainesville, Lake City, Fort Myers, respectively) are all looking to get slammed too, and we don’t know anyone between Lake City and Atlanta.

 

[AlistarWills]

Jason Simpson on the local weather at 6 cdt said that since 2 am there had been 58k lightning strikes around the eye.

 

[CB4]

Got three friends right in the “zone”. One in Lutz, one Sarasota and one in College Park area of Orlando. The friend in Sarasota boarded up, packed up, and headed north. The others are riding it out.

 

[Zorak]

Made it to Atlanta about an hour ago. Left at 6am and with stops it took nearly 12 hours. That was with going up 95 instead of Turnpike/75 and zig zagging though SE Georgia. Everything was fine until we picked up 75 in Macon, then we went up hitting Atlanta rush hour. Oof

Got three friends right in the “zone”. One in Lutz, one Sarasota and one in College Park area of Orlando. The friend in Sarasota boarded up, packed up, and headed north. The others are riding it out.

Not too far from College Park myself. Hope your friend stays safe!

 

[Toddrn]

Something for thought. The name Michael was retired from the list of named hurricanes. The name list is a six year cycle. Thursday will be six years since Michael hit. The name that replaced Michael was Milton.

 

[OakMtn4Bama]

Made it to Atlanta about an hour ago. Left at 6am and with stops it took nearly 12 hours. That was with going up 95 instead of Turnpike/75 and zig zagging though SE Georgia. Everything was fine until we picked up 75 in Macon, then we went up hitting Atlanta rush hour. Oof


Not too far from College Park myself. Hope your friend stays safe!

Nothing beats a relaxing drive through Atlanta

 

[crimsonaudio]

I've got family and friends all over central FL - my friends in St Pete are staying (they're 55' above sea level and their house is bunker). Looks like everyone i know in the Orlando is staying (no real reason to leave, other than likely power outages).

This storm is why I don't like living on the coast - give me central FL!

Y'all stay safe!

 

[Zorak]

I've got family and friends all over central FL - my friends in St Pete are staying (they're 55' above sea level and their house is bunker). Looks like everyone i know in the Orlando is staying (no real reason to leave, other than likely power outages).

This storm is why I don't like living on the coast - give me central FL!

Y'all stay safe!

whenever we think about coastal living I remind myself of this. Central Florida is great. Hour from the beach, but hurricanes mostly aren’t a big issue by the time they get to us (relatively speaking at least).

Hasn’t been bad at our house at all thus far. Still have power and Internet so can still get my weather station (see below for most recent conditions, between Winter Park and College Park), and security cameras. Worst is yet to come though I fear.

 

[Zorak]

Landfall at Siesta Key near Sarasota just a bit ago at a Cat 3.

 

[CB4]

Been texting with my friend in College Park (Orlando) -power is out but, all in all, things look to okay around him. Some debris has been blown around, but no trees down. He hasn’t gotten to do a closer inspection on his house but first glance everything appears okay.

Waiting to hear from friends in Lutz, north of Tampa. I fear for her and her family . That northern part of the storm was ferocious.

 

[CB4]

Friends in Lutz are okay. Lots of trees down and no power but okay.

 

[Zorak]

Lost power at about 4:30am with 60mph winds and 8 in./hr rainfall. Battery back up on security system stayed on until a few minutes ago, but managed to check front security cam before it died and things looked fine. No downed trees nor major debris. Waiting to hear back from a neighbor to see how the side and back is, but I’m optimistic based on the front.

 

[CB4]

Friend from Sarasota that evacuated got good news from a neighbor. No trees down. Some debris in streets and minor flooding but for the most part her neighborhood seems to have few issues .

 

[OakMtn4Bama]

Glad everyone took the warnings to heart.

 

[Padreruf]

Heard from SIL at Anna Maria -- she left but received updates -- no real damage...flooding and sand but not much else. They were on the left side of the eye -- much better than the right.

 

[crimsonaudio]

So far all friends and family are all good in central FL.

Friends in St Pete are fine - no power, water, or sewer this AM but water and sewer are back (though they're under a boil notice). Looks like about 60% of Hillsborough and Pinellas are without power, so that might take a while.

Just got off the phone with @Bazza - all is good there. No real damage (sounds like some foliage / tree cleanup is needed after the winds), but the power is out so he's living off his generator right now. He said he'll check in here once the power comes back, hopefully sooner than later.

 

[Zorak]

Power came back a few hours back after just over 36 hours off. Holding out hope the food in the fridge and freezer somehow stayed cold enough. Heading back to Orlando in the morning and praying for a miracle that the traffic on 75 isn’t backed up from Atlanta to the Turnpike.