NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER

TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT

HURRICANE MILTON
(AL142024)
5–10 October 2024

John L. Beven II, Laura Alaka, and Cody Fritz

National Hurricane Center
31 March 2025

GOES-16 DAY CONVECTION IMAGE OF HURRICANE MILTON AT 1730 UTC 7 OCTOBER 2024.
IMAGE COURTESY OF NOAA/NESDIS STAR.

Milton was one of the strongest hurricanes of record in the Atlantic basin, reaching
category 5 intensity (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) with a minimum central
pressure below 900 mb. After an unusual eastward track across the Gulf of America, it
made landfall on the west coast of the Florida peninsula as a category 3 hurricane, causing
major damage in the Sarasota and Tampa Bay areas.
 Hurricane Milton 2

Hurricane Milton
5–10 OCTOBER 2024

Table of Contents
SYNOPTIC HISTORY ..................................................................................................... 3
METEOROLOGICAL STATISTICS ................................................................................ 5
Winds and Pressure ..................................................................................................... 5
Storm Surge ................................................................................................................. 6
Rainfall and Flooding .................................................................................................... 8
Tornadoes .................................................................................................................... 9
CASUALTY AND DAMAGE STATISTICS ..................................................................... 9
FORECAST AND WARNING CRITIQUE ..................................................................... 10
Genesis ...................................................................................................................... 10
Track Forecast ............................................................................................................ 10
Intensity Forecast ....................................................................................................... 11
Tropical Cyclone Wind Watches and Warnings .......................................................... 11
Storm Surge Watches and Warnings .......................................................................... 12
IMPACT-BASED DECISION SUPPORT SERVICES (IDSS) AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
..................................................................................................................................... 13
Media and Social Media Summary ............................................................................. 13
Communication with Emergency Management Summary ........................................... 13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................. 14
TABLES ....................................................................................................................... 15
FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... 53
 Hurricane Milton 3

SYNOPTIC HISTORY

Milton had a complex genesis. A tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa on
14 September, but it did not have any significant convection at that time. This wave appears to
have interacted with a pre-existing low-level trough west of the Cabo Verde Islands, which
resulted in a slowly moving system over the eastern Atlantic. A second tropical wave that
emerged from the African coast on 18 September appears to have interacted with the earlier two
systems, and the combination of the merged systems resulted in a better-defined tropical wave
that moved westward across 40°W longitude on 22 September. The wave reached the Lesser
Antilles on 26 September, accompanied by increased, but disorganized convection. Little
development occurred while the system crossed the eastern and central Caribbean Sea on
27–28 September.

When the wave reached the western Caribbean Sea on 29 September, it interacted with
a broad trough of low pressure – the remnants of a Central American Gyre1 that had earlier helped
spawn Hurricane Helene in the Caribbean and Hurricane John in the eastern Pacific. By
1 October, this synoptic pattern led to a low-level trough extending from the Bay of Campeche
northeastward to the central Gulf of America which was interacting with a front over the eastern
Gulf of America. By 3 October, a north-south oriented trough was located over the western Gulf
waters with increasing convection and two vorticity centers. The northern center, located east of
the Texas coast, weakened due to southwesterly shear and dry air entrainment. The southern
center, located in a more favorable environment over the southwestern Gulf, developed further
on 4 October, likely aided by interaction with the remnants of the Unnamed Tropical Storm
(formerly Tropical Depression Eleven-E)2 from the eastern Pacific, which moved northward across
the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The associated convection became better organized on 5 October,
and it is estimated that this system became a tropical depression at 1200 UTC that day about
135 n mi east of Tampico, Mexico. The “best track” chart of the tropical cyclone’s (TCs) path is
given in Fig. 1, with the wind and pressure histories shown in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively. The best
track positions and intensities are listed in Table 13.

The depression initially moved slowly northward through the early hours of 6 October. An
environment of light-to-moderate vertical wind shear and very warm sea surface temperatures
allowed for intensification, and the cyclone became a tropical storm about 6 h after genesis. Later
that day, surface pressures rose north of Milton, while the interaction of the aforementioned front
and another vorticity center moving northwestward from the Caribbean caused the formation of a
surface low over the northeastern Gulf of America. This evolution stopped Milton’s northward
motion and caused the cyclone to move slowly eastward along the southern edge of the

1
A Central American gyre (CAG) is a broad lower-tropospheric cyclonic circulation occurring near Central
America. For more information please refer to Papin, P., L. F. Bosart, R. D. Torn, 2017: A Climatology of
Central American Gyres. Mon. Wea. Rev., 145, 1983-2000. http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/
pdf/10.1175/MWR-D-16-0411.1
2 The Unnamed Tropical Storm report is available at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/
EP112024_Unnamed.pdf
3 A digital record of the complete best track, including wind radii, can be found on line at

ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/atcf. Data for the current year’s storms are located in the btk directory, while previous
years’ data are located in the archive directory.
 Hurricane Milton 4

mid-latitude westerlies – a motion that would continue until early on 7 October. Milton steadily
strengthened during this time, with the cyclone reaching hurricane strength by 1800 UTC
6 October about 265 n mi west-northwest of Merida, Mexico.

Milton turned east-southeastward in the early hours of 7 October partly in response to the
strengthening low and front to the northeast and north. At about the same time, explosive
intensification began as Milton developed a small and well-defined inner core. Aircraft data
indicated that Milton's central pressure was 977 mb around 0325 UTC but fell sharply to an
estimated 895 mb by 2000 UTC, with the maximum sustained winds also increasing to an
estimated peak intensity of 155 kt. At the time of peak intensity, Milton was centered about 85 n
mi northwest of Merida. The hurricane subsequently weakened for roughly the next 12 hours as
it underwent an eyewall replacement cycle, and while this occurred, the center was moving
eastward about 35–50 n mi north of the northwestern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
While this track was close enough to bring tropical-storm conditions, storm surge, and destructive
waves to the area, Milton’s hurricane-force winds were confined to a small area near the eye and
remained offshore.

Early on 8 October, the low over the northeastern Gulf of America moved across Florida
into the western Atlantic. This allowed a low- to mid-level ridge to build northward across the
northwestern Caribbean and the Florida Peninsula between the low and Milton, with the front
moving northward to the central Florida Peninsula. This evolution caused the hurricane to move
somewhat erratically east-northeastward. After Milton completed the eyewall replacement near
1200 UTC that day, it re-intensified from 125 kt to 145 kt between 1200–2205 UTC 8 October.
Subsequent additional fluctuations in intensity that occurred into early 9 October could have been
related to a second eyewall replacement cycle.

Around 0600 UTC 9 October, Milton entered an area of stronger deep-layer southwesterly
flow, which significantly increased southwesterly shear over the system and caused the hurricane
to accelerate northeastward, bringing the center over cooler sea surface temperatures in the
eastern Gulf. The increasingly hostile environment caused Milton to rapidly weaken while it
significantly increased in size during the approach to the west coast of the Florida Peninsula. The
maximum sustained winds decreased to near 100 kt (category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane
Wind Scale) by the time the center made landfall on Siesta Key, Florida, at 0030 UTC 10 October
(Fig. 4).

Milton subsequently moved east-northeastward across the Florida Peninsula, with the
center emerging into the Atlantic near Cape Canaveral by 0800 UTC 10 October. The cyclone
started extratropical transition as it interacted with the front while crossing Florida, and this
process was complete by 1800 UTC that day, when Milton became a storm-force extratropical
low about 185 n mi east of Daytona Beach, Florida. The extratropical low continued eastward
and gradually lost its identity in the front, and the system dissipated by 0000 UTC 12 October a
few hundred n mi south of Bermuda.
 Hurricane Milton 5

METEOROLOGICAL STATISTICS

Observations in Milton (Figs. 2 and 3) include subjective satellite-based Dvorak technique

intensity estimates from the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB) and the Satellite
Analysis Branch (SAB), objective Advanced Dvorak Technique (ADT) estimates and Satellite
Consensus (SATCON) estimates from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite
Studies/University of Wisconsin-Madison. Observations also include flight-level, stepped
frequency microwave radiometer (SFMR), and dropwindsonde observations from 9 flights of the
53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron of the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command and 13 flights
of the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (9 flights by the P-3 aircraft and 4 synoptic surveillance
missions by the G-IV aircraft, Fig. 5). Data and imagery from NOAA polar-orbiting satellites
including the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU), the NASA Global Precipitation
Mission (GPM), the European Space Agency’s Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT), Defense
Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites, and the Time-Resolved Observations of
Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) satellites,
among others, were also useful in constructing the best track of Milton.

Ship reports of winds of tropical storm force associated with Milton are given in Table 2,
and selected surface observations from land stations and data buoys are given in Table 3.
Selected additional storm total rainfall reports are given in Table 4.

Winds and Pressure

Milton’s peak intensity on 7 October is unusually uncertain due to the rapidly-intensifying
hurricane reaching its peak between aircraft missions. An Air Force Reserve aircraft that made
its last penetration of the eye near 1700 UTC reported maximum 700-mb flight-level winds of
158 kt, which supports surface winds of 140-145 kt. The aircraft also reported that the central
pressure fell from 925 mb to 912 mb between its last two fixes. Satellite imagery suggests it is
likely that Milton continued to strengthen until about 2000 UTC, when the eye started becoming
less distinct. A subsequent NOAA Hurricane Hunter mission, which reached the eye after
weakening began, reported maximum measured flight-level winds of 161 kt at 2221 UTC
7 October, which using the standard dropsonde-based reductions supports peak surface winds
of near 145 kt. Based on these observations and the intensity trends in aircraft and satellite data,
it is estimated that Milton briefly reached a peak intensity of 155 kt at 2000 UTC 7 October. It
should be noted that: 1) two dropsondes from the NOAA aircraft reported surface winds of near
160 kt, and 2) estimates of stronger winds from the SFMR are not considered reliable.

The lowest observed pressure in Milton was 899 mb from a dropsonde at 2220 UTC
7 October which had a surface wind of 24 kt. Thus, the estimated pressure at the time is 897 mb.
As the hurricane was weakening at that time, the pressure is estimated to have been 895 mb at
the time of peak intensity. This ties Hurricane Rita of 2005 for the fourth-lowest minimum central
pressure in an Atlantic hurricane. The lower central pressures include 882 mb in Wilma in 2005,
888 mb in Gilbert in 1988, and 892 mb in the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. Given that there were
no aircraft in the hurricane at the time of the estimated peak intensity, the analyzed minimum
pressure of 895 mb is more uncertain than normal.
 Hurricane Milton 6

Milton’s landfall intensity in Florida is also somewhat uncertain. As the center approached
the Florida west coast, aircraft reported 700-mb flight-level winds near 115 kt, and data from
Synthetic Aperture Radar (Fig. 4) showed an area of 100–110 kt surface winds4 over water to the
west of the center. This area of winds moved onshore about 90 minutes after the center made
landfall, and as Milton rapidly weakened it is likely that the winds decreased before they reached
the coast. Unfortunately, no wind observations were available in the area where these winds
reached the coast. The maximum sustained winds reported in Florida were 79 kt (with a gust of
93 kt) at a University of Florida tower located at Venice Beach, which is possibly a little south of
where the strongest winds reached the coast. The minimum pressure at landfall is estimated at
near 958 mb based on reports of 959.7 mb at the Sarasota Airport, a nearby barometer reading
from a storm chaser, and aircraft data prior to landfall. Based on the available data, the landfall
intensity is set at 100 kt - category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. However, if
these major hurricane winds occurred along the coast they were likely confined to a small area
near Sarasota and Siesta Key.

In Florida, Milton caused hurricane conditions along the west coast from Clearwater Beach
and Tampa southward across Sarasota to near Venice. Tropical storm conditions occurred
elsewhere across the Florida Peninsula and portions of the Florida Keys south of a Cedar Key-
Fernandina Beach line, with hurricane-force wind gusts reported in central Florida near the track
of the center. The strongest reported sustained winds in this area were 60 kt at Ponce Inlet at
0906 UTC 10 October. Ponce Inlet also reported a peak gust of 86 kt. Tropical-storm conditions
also occurred along portions of the Georgia coast, with a WeatherFlow station in Savannah
reporting sustained winds of 37 kt and a gust to 45 kt at 1019 UTC 10 October. Wind gusts to
tropical-storm-force were reported along portions of the southern coast of South Carolina.

Milton brought tropical-storm conditions to portions of the northern Yucatan Peninsula of

Mexico. The strongest reported winds in this area were sustained 41 kt and a gust to 61 kt at a
WeatherFlow station near Cancun and sustained 34 kt with a gust to 44 kt at a Mexican Navy
Station at Isla Mujeres. Tropical-storm-force wind gusts occurred over portions of western Cuba,
with the highest observed gust of 44 kt at La Palma.

Storm Surge5
Milton produced a damaging storm surge along the central to southwest Florida Gulf coast,
as well as minor storm surge impacts on the northeast Florida Atlantic coast. Figure 6 shows the
NHC storm surge analysis for Hurricane Milton, depicting the maximum inundation levels reached
during the event. Figure 7 shows the available in situ maximum water level observations relative

4 The validity of SAR data for estimating peak winds in tropical cyclones is still being evaluated.
5 Several terms are used to describe water levels due to a storm. Storm surge is defined as the abnormal
rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tide, and is expressed in
terms of height above normal tide levels. Because storm surge represents the deviation from normal water
levels, it is not referenced to a vertical datum. Storm tide is defined as the water level due to the
combination of storm surge and the astronomical tide, and is expressed in terms of height above a vertical
datum, i.e. the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88) or Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW).
Inundation is the total water level that occurs on normally dry ground as a result of the storm tide, and is
expressed in terms of height above ground level. At the coast, normally dry land is roughly defined as areas
higher than the normal high tide line, or Mean Higher High Water (MHHW).
 Hurricane Milton 7

to Mean Higher High Water (MHHW, i.e. an approximation for inundation at the immediate
coastline) along with the NWS Tampa Bay (TBW) radar highlighting the storm structure near the
time of landfall. Observations in Fig. 7 include NOAA tide gauges and U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) water level sensors that were deployed prior to landfall. Note that the deployed USGS
water level sensor data are wave-filtered (i.e., storm tide only) and measured relative to the North
American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88) and then converted to MHHW using the vertical
transformation tool (https://vdatum.noaa.gov/) provided by the National Geodetic Survey, Office
of Coast Survey, and Operational Oceanographic Products and Services of NOAA.

Storm surge inundation of 6–9 ft above ground level (AGL) occurred from Venice
southward to Boca Grande, with an isolated peak of up to 10 ft AGL estimated near Manasota
Key (Fig. 6). A deployed USGS water level sensor measured 6.74 ft above MHHW (representing
wave-filtered storm tide) near the Venice Fishing Pier (Fig. 7), with notable waves on top.
However, no in situ observations were available from the hardest hit areas south of Venice.
Moreover, the collection of stilled high-water marks along Manasota Key was further complicated
by the damage that occurred, leading to greater than normal uncertainty in the estimated peak
water levels. NOAA aerial imagery (not shown) indicates destructive storm surge impacts to the
Manasota Key beach front community and significant coastal erosion, e.g. a new inlet was opened
[termed Milton Pass]. NWS survey crews in the area found significant storm surge and wave
impacts but could not identify a high confidence stilled high water mark in the hardest hit areas
due to the extent of the damage (Figure 8). Survey crews concluded that the water was moving
extremely fast and the wave action was tremendous, leading to “blowout” of the first floor of many
structures. A hindcast using the final best track performed by the NHC Storm Surge Unit (not
shown) was used to construct a more complete depiction of the storm surge flooding footprint to
augment the data gaps. It depicts a maximum stilled water level of 10 ft above MHHW at
Manasota Key. It should be noted, however, that the hindcast excludes the height of waves.
Based on evidence collected from NWS survey crews in combination with unfiltered water level
observations recorded by USGS water level sensors, wave crests atop the storm surge likely
reached more than 1.5 times the height of the stilled water level. To complicate matters, the same
area had a significant storm surge from Hurricane Helene, two weeks prior, and the erosion and
debris from its aftermath compounded the damages incurred during Milton.

Maximum storm surge inundation of 5–8 ft AGL occurred in the northern portion of
Charlotte Harbor and along the Peace River. Few in situ observations are available in this area,
especially at the immediate coast. A USGS streamgage at Shell Creek near Punta Gorda
measured 8.86 ft above NGVD29 (no conversion to MHHW), which is 1.42 ft higher than
measured during Hurricane Helene, two weeks prior. Mark Sudduth and Matt Clemons
(HurricaneTrack) captured video footage of a significant storm surge at the marina in Punta
Gorda. The camera was mounted 6 ft above the concrete pad, in a shelter near the marina. Figure
9 shows still frames from before, during, and after Milton, highlighting the destructive power of the
surge in Charlotte Harbor. Additionally, NWS crews found high water marks measuring 6 ft AGL
in this area.

Near the landfall location, maximum storm surge inundation of 4–6 ft occurred from
Longboat Key to Venice. A deployed USGS water level sensor on Longboat Key measured 5.04 ft
above MHHW with significant waves on top. A sharp gradient in the surge occurred north of the
landfall location where the winds were mostly offshore, including Tampa Bay, as 1–2 ft of
 Hurricane Milton 8

inundation occurred. Maximum storm surge inundation of 4–6 ft AGL also occurred south of Boca
Grande through Bonita Beach, including the Caloosahatchee River. The National Ocean Service
(NOS) tide gauge at Fort Myers reported 5.27 ft above MHHW, and a deployed USGS water level
sensor measured 5.46 ft above MHHW on Sanibel Island near Blind Pass.

Maximum storm surge inundation of 3–5 ft AGL occurred from Bonita Beach through
Marco Island. The NOS tide gauge in Naples Bay reported 5.08 ft above MHHW. South of Marco
Island, 1–3 ft AGL of inundation occurred in remote areas of the Everglades, and 1–2 ft occurred
in the Florida Keys where the NOS tide gauges at Key West and Vaca Key reported 1.23 and
2.02 ft above MHHW, respectively

On the U.S. East Coast, 1–3 ft of storm surge inundation occurred from Port Canaveral
northward through the Georgia/Florida Border, with the NOS tide gauge at Trident Pier measuring
2.52 ft above MHHW. Farther north, the NOS tide gauge on the St. Johns River (Buckman Bridge)
measured 3.01 ft above MHHW. In Fernandina Beach, Florida and Fort Pulaski, Georgia, NOS
tide gauges showed that the highest storm surge occurred during low tide, measuring 4.29 and
3.16 ft above normal tide levels, respectively; however, the maximum water level was less than
2 ft above MHHW at both locations.

In Mexico, water levels reached 1–3 ft above normal tide levels along the northern and
western coasts of the Yucatan Peninsula, with tide gauge data from near Celestún and Sisal,
Mexico, measuring water levels of 2.3 ft and 2.6 ft, respectively. The storm surge resulted in the
inundation of structures in low-lying areas near the coast.

Rainfall and Flooding

Milton produced a swath of heavy rain across portions of the central and northern Florida
Peninsula, particularly from Tampa Bay to Daytona Beach where the circulation of the hurricane
interacted with the front located north of the center (Fig. 10). The maximum reported storm total
rainfall was 20.40 inches at a Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network
(CoCoRaHS) site near St. Petersburg, while other storm totals include 17.20 inches at a
CoCoRaHS site near Ormond Beach and 14.83 inches at an NWS Cooperative Observer site
near Orlando. These rains caused widespread river and urban flooding, particularly in the St.
Petersburg-Tampa area where record-high crests were recorded on the Hillsborough River.
Lesser rainfall amounts occurred elsewhere farther north, with totals of 1–3 inches as far north as
the northern Florida Peninsula and southeastern Georgia. Rainfall totals were generally lower
south of the track, with totals of 1–3 inches occurring as far south as Lake Okeechobee. However,
a pocket of heavier rain occurred along portions of the southeast Florida coast where a
CoCoRaHS site near Vero Beach reported a storm total of 11.60 inches.

In Mexico, rainfall amounts of generally 4–6 inches occurred in the state of Yucatan, with
a maximum storm total of 8.65 inches at Dzilam (Fig. 11). Rainfall totals elsewhere on the Yucatan
Peninsula were generally in the 1–3 inch range.

Outer rain bands of Milton caused rainfalls of generally 1–3 inches over portions of western
Cuba.
 Hurricane Milton 9

The other low-pressure area to the east and northeast of Milton produced locally heavy
rainfall over the southern portion of the Florida Peninsula as it moved eastward across the area
on 7–8 October. These rains are separate from those associated with Milton and are not included
in Tables 3 and 4.

Tornadoes
Milton caused a significant tornado outbreak over the southern and central portions of the
Florida Peninsula on 9 October which included 45 known tornadoes on land and a tornadic
waterspout over Lake Okeechobee (location map shown in Fig. 12 and examples shown in
Fig. 13). The outbreak included 3 EF-3 tornadoes, 6 EF-2 tornadoes, 25 EF-1 tornadoes, 7 EF-0
tornadoes, and 4 tornadoes of unknown intensity. Milton is the first tropical cyclone in the Storm
Prediction Center’s (SPC) tropical cyclone tornado database (dating back to 1995) to produce
more than one EF-3 tornado. The most significant tornado was an EF-3 that killed six people near
Fort Pierce and Vero Beach. There were 14 known injuries associated with the tornadoes.

It should be noted that Table 3 includes some strong wind gusts over southeastern Florida
that were associated with tornadoes or mesocyclones during the tornado outbreak. The most
notable of these was an 80-kt gust at the North Palm Beach County airport, which occurred as a
tornado passed nearby during the afternoon of 9 October. The station reported 30-kt sustained
winds with gusts to tropical storm force in the early morning hours of 10 October due to the main
wind field of Milton.

CASUALTY AND DAMAGE STATISTICS

Milton is currently known to be responsible for 15 direct deaths6 – 12 in the United States
(all in Florida) and 3 in Mexico. In the U. S., six people died due to the tornado near Fort Pierce
and Vero Beach. Four people were killed by falling trees, while there were two deaths due to
freshwater flooding. There are no known storm surge fatalities in Florida as of this writing. In
Mexico, media reports indicate two of the deaths were due to hurricane-related high surf, while
the third was a man who fell from a fishing boat during the storm. Six other people were reported
missing from another fishing boat.

Milton caused 27 indirect deaths in the United States, all in Florida. Ten of the deaths were
due to health issues during storm preparations or post-storm clean-up, while 10 others were due
to falls related to storm preparations, clean-up, or power failures. There were four indirect deaths

6 Deaths occurring as a direct result of the forces of the tropical cyclone are referred to as “direct” deaths.
These would include those persons who drowned in storm surge, rough seas, rip currents, and freshwater
floods. Direct deaths also include casualties resulting from lightning and wind-related events (e.g.,
collapsing structures). Deaths occurring from such factors as heart attacks, house fires, electrocutions from
downed power lines, vehicle accidents on wet roads, etc., are considered “indirect” deaths.
 Hurricane Milton 10

due to auto accidents, one due to stepping on a downed power line, one due to a fire started by
Milton’s storm surge, and one due to a falling tree limb after the storm had passed.

The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) estimated that Milton
caused $34.3 billion in damage in the United Sates, almost exclusively in Florida. However, there
are no details currently available about how many structures were destroyed or damaged by the
storm. One prominent building damaged by the hurricane was the Tropicana Field stadium in
St. Petersburg, where the fabric roof was ripped off by high winds followed by water damage from
rain falling into the stadium (Fig. 14). It should be noted that the area of the Florida west coast
most affected by Milton had also been affected by Hurricane Helene two weeks before, which
complicates damage assessments.

FORECAST AND WARNING CRITIQUE

Genesis
The genesis of Milton was very poorly forecast. Temporally, the genesis area that covered
the system that Milton developed from was first mentioned in the 7-day Tropical Weather Outlook
(TWO) 210 h before genesis with a low chance (<40% probability) of development (Table 5). The
probability of genesis was raised to the medium category (40–60% chance) 174 h before genesis,
although Milton’s genesis location still fell outside the specified area. At 60 h before genesis, the
7-day probabilities were reduced to the low category. This was followed by raising them back to
the medium category 36 h before genesis. The genesis probability was finally raised to the high
(>60% chance) category 12 h before genesis. In terms of the 2-day TWO, the probabilities
reached the low category 114 h before genesis occurred. However, 90 h before genesis the
probabilities were lowered to near 0%, and they were not raised above that level until 18 h before
genesis. The 2-day probabilities were raised to the medium category 6 h before genesis, and
they were not raised to the high category until the time of genesis.

Spatially, the location of Milton’s genesis was also very poorly forecast (Fig. 15). At the
time of the initial genesis area, the forecast formation area did not cover the portion of the Gulf of
America where genesis occurred. The observed genesis location was not included in the genesis
forecast area until 90 h before genesis occurred. Reasons for the poor forecasts included: 1) Early
model forecasts showing genesis in the Caribbean Sea rather than the Gulf, 2) Model guidance
showing two possible disturbances that could form in the area and being inconsistent about which
one was going to develop, and 3) The presence of the front and associated upper-level westerlies;
which made it uncertain how favorable the environment was for genesis over the Gulf.

Track Forecast
A verification of NHC official track forecasts for Milton is given in Table 6a. Official track
forecast errors were a little greater than the mean official errors for the previous 5-yr period for
the 12–60 h forecast periods, and less than the 5-yr means for the 72–120 h periods. These
forecasts had much lower errors than the Climatology-Persistence (OCD5) errors at all time
 Hurricane Milton 11

periods, which is not surprising given Milton’s abnormal eastward and northeastward track across
the Gulf of America. A homogeneous comparison of the official track errors with selected guidance
models is given in Table 6b with the associated levels of forecast skill shown in Fig. 16. While the
official track forecast errors are relatively low, several of the guidance models had lower errors at
many of the forecast times, including the consensus models TVCA and the U.S. Navy’s
COAMPS-TC regional hurricane model (CTCI). It should be noted that for both sets of errors the
sample size is small for the longer forecast times, with only one verifying forecast at 120 h.
Examination of the individual NHC forecasts (Fig. 17) shows that these forecasts captured the
general motion, but some of them had a northward bias, possibly due to the guidance
underestimating the influence of the circulation of the second low over the Gulf on Milton’s track.
Despite this bias, official forecasts consistently indicated landfall in the Sarasota/Tampa Bay area
near the actual landfall location at Siesta Key.

Intensity Forecast
A verification of NHC official intensity forecasts for Milton is given in Table 7a. Official
intensity forecast errors were significantly greater than the mean official errors for the previous
5-yr period at all forecast times except 120 h, when there was only one verifying forecast. Once
again, the associated OCD5 errors were much larger than the 5-yr averages, indicating that Milton
was harder to forecast than normal. A homogeneous comparison of the official intensity errors
with selected guidance models is given in Table 7b with the associated skill levels compared to
OCD5 shown in Fig. 18. None of the intensity guidance performed well on Milton. However, the
regional hurricane models (HWFI, HMNI, HFAI, and HFBI) and three of the consensus models
generally had lower errors than the official forecasts between 12–72 h. Examination of the
individual forecasts (Fig. 19) shows the main source of error was that Milton intensified far more
and much faster than anticipated on 5–7 October. The poor forecasts were likely due to Milton’s
proximity to the front and an area of strong vertical shear, which led to an underestimation of how
favorable the environment was for strengthening. The regional models did a better job of
forecasting this part of the storm’s life than the official forecast. When Milton encountered less
favorable conditions starting on 9 October, the official intensity forecasts generally anticipated
how much weakening would occur. Despite the intensity forecast difficulties, the NHC intensity
forecasts were very consistent in forecasting and messaging the threat of a major hurricane
landfall along the Florida west coast from the very first advisory.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Watches and Warnings

Tropical cyclone wind watches and warnings associated with Milton are given in Table 8a.
In the United States, a Hurricane Watch was issued for the landfall area on the Florida west coast
at 0900 UTC 7 October which was 54 h before the onset of tropical-storm-force winds in the area
at 1500 UTC 9 October. A Hurricane Warning was issued for the landfall area at 2100 UTC
7 October, which was 42 h before the onset of tropical-storm-force winds. Along the Florida east
coast, a Hurricane Watch was issued at 2100 UTC 7 October in anticipation of the center of Milton
emerging into the Atlantic after crossing Florida. A Hurricane Warning was issued for portions of
the Florida east coast at 1200 UTC 8 October, with the center of the hurricane reaching the Florida
east coast near 0800 UTC 10 October.
 Hurricane Milton 12

In Mexico, the Government of Mexico issued an initial Tropical Storm Watch for portions
of the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula at 0300 UTC 6 October, followed by a Tropical Storm
Warning at 1500 UTC that day. A Hurricane Watch was first issued for portions of the Peninsula
at 2100 UTC 6 October, followed by a Hurricane Warning at 0900 UTC 7 October. Due to the
northward bias in the track forecasts mentioned above, these watches and warnings had to be
extended southward and eastward along the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula later on 7–8 October.

Storm Surge Watches and Warnings

Storm surge watches and warnings associated with Milton are given in Table 8b. A Storm
Surge Watch was first issued at 0900 UTC 7 October for the Florida Gulf Coast from Flamingo
northward to the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. The entire area
was upgraded to a Storm Surge Warning at 2100 UTC 7 October. At the same time, a Storm
Surge Watch was issued for the U.S. East Coast from Sebastian Inlet, Florida to Edisto Beach,
South Carolina, including the St. Johns River. A Storm Surge Warning was issued for the U.S.
East Coast from the Volusia/Brevard County Line in Florida northward to the mouth of the St.
Mary's River, including the St. Johns River at 1200 UTC 8 October, and was extended southward
to Port Canaveral, Florida, three hours later. At 2100 UTC 8 October, the Storm Surge Warning
on the U.S. East Coast was extended southward again to Sebastian Inlet, and also northward to
the Altamaha Sound, Georgia. The Storm Surge Warning on the Florida Gulf Coast was trimmed
prior to landfall, when the warning was discontinued north of Yankeetown at 0900 UTC 9 October.

Figure 20 shows the extent of the Storm Surge Watch and Warning in effect at 0900 UTC
9 October, overlaid with the maximum water levels from in situ observations greater than 3 ft
above MHHW. On the Florida Gulf Coast, the warning area captures the hardest hit areas from
Longboat Key southward through Naples. Due to the perpendicular approach of the storm relative
to the coastline, a sharp gradient of storm surge occurred across the track, and areas north of the
landfall location observed water levels below normal tide levels due to offshore winds. However,
the uncertainty of the track forecast at actionable lead times to allow for life-safety actions such
as evacuations necessitated the issuance of the warning for these areas. The lead time of the
Storm Surge Watch and Warning based on the arrival time of tropical-storm-force wind at the
coast was 54 h and 42 h, respectively.

The forecast scenario presented challenges given the extreme sensitivity of Tampa Bay
to storm surge and the sharp gradient in surge north of the actual landfall point. The peak storm
surge forecast was initially given as 8–12 ft AGL between Anclote River and Englewood including
Tampa Bay coinciding with the first Storm Surge Watch issuance. The forecast for this area was
increased to 10–15 ft AGL when the first Storm Surge Warning was issued. At 0300 UTC
9 October, both the northern and southern extent of the 10–15 ft area was modified. The
southernmost breakpoint was moved from Englewood southward to Boca Grande, and the peak
numbers for coastal Pinellas County (Anclote River to Egmont Key) were lowered to 9–13 ft AGL.
Additional changes were needed in coastal Pinellas County (Anclote River to Anna Maria Island)
as well as Tampa Bay where the peak storm surge forecast was lowered to 8–12 ft AGL at
1200 UTC 9 October, and ultimately decreased to 6–9 ft AGL at 2100 UTC 9 October just prior to
landfall. These forecasts were lowered incrementally north of the ultimate landfall location as the
likelihood of offshore winds increased, and it should be noted, a track shift of less than 30 n mi
 Hurricane Milton 13

north of the observed landfall location would have resulted in a significant storm surge into Tampa
Bay. The forecast numbers of 10–15 ft from Anna Maria Island to Boca Grande were lowered to
9–13 ft AGL at 1800 UTC 9 October. The NHC storm surge analysis falls within this range.

IMPACT-BASED DECISION SUPPORT SERVICES (IDSS) AND

PUBLIC COMMUNICATION

Media and Social Media Summary

The NHC began producing short-form videos on 4 October with a quick overview as the
area of interest was highlighted in the Tropical Weather Outlook, and the first livestream was
provided on 5 October as the system quickly strengthened into a tropical storm. The livestreams
continued through 10 October with a total of 10 being conducted. Since there was an imminent
threat to the U.S., the NHC Media Pool was activated on 6 October and remained open through
10 October, with the NHC providing a total of 250 interviews for the event. A peak engagement
was noted on 8 October, the day before Milton made landfall. All short-form content surpassed
the records set by Hurricane Helene earlier this season with a total of 6.9 million views of all reels
across Facebook and Instagram alone. One of the reels reached 2.8 million plays.

Communication with Emergency Management Summary

The NHC began communication with emergency managers on 5 October as Milton was
forming in the southwestern Gulf of America. Twenty decision support briefings were provided to
emergency managers and coordinated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Hurricane Liaison Team embedded at the NHC. These briefings included video-
teleconferences with FEMA Headquarters, FEMA Region 4, the state and counties of Florida, the
Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians. Briefing support continued
through 9 October as Milton crossed Florida. Additionally, in coordination with the Florida Division
of Emergency Management and the NHC Storm Surge Unit, the Hurricane Liaison Team directly
supported several counties on the west coast of Florida with evacuation planning and decision
making.

NHC’s TAFB provided 16 live briefings to US Coast Guard Districts 7 and 8 starting on
6 October in support of their life-saving mission. In particular, the final two days of briefings were
provided in-person by embedded TAFB forecasters at USCG D7's Area Command for Hurricane
Milton set up at Air Station Miami.
 Hurricane Milton 14

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Laura Alaka and Cody Fritz provided the storm surge data and forecast critique sections.
The NHC Storm Surge Unit provided the storm surge graphics. Maria Torres and Michael
Spagnolo (FEMA) provided the input for the IDSS section. The National Weather Service Forecast
offices in Key West, Miami, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee, Florida, provided
meteorological and impact data for their areas of responsibility, including the storm surge damage
image from Manasota Key. The National Data Buoy Center and the National Ocean Service
provided much of the coastal, oceanic, and tide gauge data used in the report. The United States
Geological Survey provided streamgage and deployed tide gauge data. The Meteorological and
Oceanographic Services of Mexico provided much of the data from Mexico. The Florida
Automated Weather Network, the Kennedy Space Center, the South and Southwestern Florida
Water Management Districts, Keys Energy, Coastal Carolina University, WeatherSTEM, Weather
Underground, and WeatherFlow provided data from their stations. WeatherFlow provided the data
from the University of Florida towers. Roger Edwards and Matt Mosier of the SPC provided the
tornado statistics, while Dave Roth of the Weather Prediction Center provided the rainfall graphic
and much of the rainfall data. Josh Morgerman/iCyclone contributed his data from the landfall
area. Lisa Bucci created the aircraft data graphic, individual track forecast graphic, and individual
intensity forecast graphic, while John Cangialosi created the tornado location map based on SPC
data. Tropicana Field image courtesy of USA Today, Bryan R. Smith, and Getty Images. Mark
Sudduth and Matt Clemons of HurricaneTrack provided the Punta Gorda storm surge image.
 Hurricane Milton 15

TABLES

Table 1. Best track for Hurricane Milton, 5–10 October 2024.

Date/Time Latitude Longitude Pressure Wind Speed

Stage
(UTC) (°N) (°W) (mb) (kt)

04 / 1800 21.0 94.6 1009 30 low

05 / 0000 20.8 95.2 1008 30 "

05 / 0600 21.4 95.4 1008 30 "

05 / 1200 22.0 95.5 1008 30 tropical depression

05 / 1800 22.5 95.5 1006 35 tropical storm

06 / 0000 22.7 95.5 1004 35 "

06 / 0600 22.6 95.2 999 45 "

06 / 1200 22.5 94.8 991 55 "

06 / 1800 22.5 94.1 986 70 hurricane

07 / 0000 22.5 93.4 981 75 "

07 / 0600 22.1 92.9 972 90 "

07 / 1200 21.8 92.2 943 120 "

07 / 1800 21.7 91.3 908 150 "

07 / 2000 21.8 90.9 895 155 "

08 / 0000 21.8 90.4 902 145 "

08 / 0600 21.9 89.5 925 125 "

08 / 1200 22.5 88.8 929 125 "

08 / 1800 22.5 88.0 916 140 "

08 / 2205 22.8 87.2 902 145 "

09 / 0000 23.0 86.9 908 140 "

09 / 0205 23.3 86.6 916 135 "

09 / 0600 23.8 85.9 909 140 "

 Hurricane Milton 16

Date/Time Latitude Longitude Pressure Wind Speed

Stage
(UTC) (°N) (°W) (mb) (kt)

09 / 0825 24.3 85.4 907 140 "

09 / 1200 25.0 84.8 919 135 "

09 / 1800 26.3 84.0 945 115 "

10 / 0000 27.3 82.7 956 105 "

10 / 0030 27.4 82.6 958 100 "

10 / 0600 28.1 81.3 975 70 "

10 / 1200 29.0 79.5 983 65 "

10 / 1800 29.5 77.5 984 60 extratropical

11 / 0000 29.5 75.0 986 60 "

11 / 0600 29.5 72.4 993 55 "

11 / 1200 29.5 69.3 997 55 "

11 / 1800 29.3 65.9 999 50 "

12 / 0000 dissipated

maximum winds and

07 / 2000 21.8 90.9 895 155
minimum pressure

landfall at Siesta Key,

10 / 0030 27.4 82.6 958 100
Florida
 Hurricane Milton 17

Table 2. Selected ship reports with winds of at least 34 kt for Hurricane Milton, 5–10 October
2024.

Date/Time Ship call Latitude Longitude Wind dir/ Pressure

(UTC) sign (N) (W) speed (kt) (mb)

07 / 2200 WGAE 19.2 95.5 330 / 38 1008.6

08 / 0700 WGAE 19.3 95.4 330 / 44 1010.9

09 / 0100 SVDA6 24.8 79.6 210 / 35 1005.0

09 / 0800 C6GY5 17.9 87.3 270 / 35 1009.4

10 / 0100 SVDA6 24.8 79.6 210 / 35 1005.0

10 / 1800 9HA537 25.6 76.3 200 / 45 1005.0

10 / 2000 9HA537 25.7 76.8 200 / 45 1005.0

11 / 1800 LAJS6 25.2 65.2 250 / 35 999.5

 Hurricane Milton 18

Table 3. Selected surface observations for Hurricane Milton, 5–10 October 2024.

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Buoys
41002 NOAA 37
10/2050 1004.0 10/2045 43
(32.50N 79.10W) (4.1 m) (1-min)
41004 NOAA 39
10/1140 1006.6 10/1742 47
(32.50N 79.10W) (4.1 m) (1-min)
41008 NOAA 40
10/0900 1003.7 10/1251 46
(31.40N 80.87W) (3.8 m) (1-min)
41009 NOAA 45
10/0910 981.7 10/0641 58
(28.51N 80.19W) (3.8 m) (1-min)
41010 NOAA 49
10/1420 985.7 10/1753 58
(28.88N 78.48W) (4.1 m) (1-min)
41029 CORMP
10/1208 1008.2 10/1208 33 45
(32.80N 79.62W) (3.0 m)
41033 CORMP
10/1008 1007.7 10/1008 27 43
(32.28N 80.41W) (3.0 m)
41047 NOAA
11/0900 999.6i 11/0652 40i 49i
(27.47N 71.45W) (4.1 m)
41066 CORMP
10/1108 1007.4 10/1208 35 49
(32.54N 79.66W) (3.0 m)
41069 CORMP
10/0908 989.4 10/0908 50 76
(29.29N 80.80W) (3.0 m)
42001 NOAA 31
08/0940 1002.3 08/0947 36
(25.93N 89.66W) (4.1 m) (1-min)
42023 COMPS
09/1935 987.1 09/1835 45 62
(26.01N 83.09W) (3.1 m)
42026 COMPS
09/1605 992.2 09/1335 37 50
(25.17N 83.48W) (3.2 m)
42036 NOAA 44
09/2300 997.9 09/2214 51
(28.50N 84.51W) (3.8 m) (1-min)
42055 NOAA 47
06/2010 997.5 06/1959 54
(22.14N 94.11W) (4.1 m) (1-min)

Saildrones
Saildrone 1042 32
10/2159 996.3 10/1106 48
(29.71N 75.17W) (1-min)
Saildrone 1057 54
09/1934 994.6 09/2031 69
(27.56N 84.41W) (1-min)
Saildrone 1083 74
09/1851 973.3 09/2202 99
(26.38N 83.27W) (1-min)

Mexico
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Campeche (MMCP)
07/2040 1001.4 07/2220 20 40
(19.83N 90.50W)
Merida (MMMD)
08/0243 998.7 08/0140 26 30
(20.94N 89.66W)
 Hurricane Milton 19

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Mexican Navy/SEMAR Stations

Cayo Arcas
07/2120 1001.9 07/1820 31 46
(20.20N 91.96W)
Isla Mujeres (IMUX4)
08/2030 996.1 08/2250 34 44
(21.24N 86.74W)

WeatherFlow
Cancun-Ikarus TEMPEST
08/2130 997.0 08/1745 41 61
(21.32N 86.81W)
San Benito Yuc 27
08/0525 997.0 08/2055 27 55
TEMPEST (21.33N 89.42W)

Other Mexican Stations

Campeche (19.81N 90.59W) 2.43
Celestun (CLSY1)
07/2220 997.4 08/0300 24 38 2.66
(20.86N 90.38W)
Ciudad del Carmen
07/2210 1004.6 08/1240 27 37 0.85
(18.64N 91.84W)
Conkal (21.08N 89.52W) 5.45
Dzilam (21.39N 88.90W) 08/0850 994.4 08/1840 31 41 8.65
Peto (20.13N 88.92W) 4.29
Progreso (21.30N 88.67W) 08/0410 992.1 1.31
Sisal (21.16N 90.05W) 2.49

Cuba
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Saint Lucia (MUSL)
09/0305 22 37 1.22
(22.67N 83.97W)
San Juan Y Martinez (78314)
09/0046 26 41 0.75
(22.28N 83.83W)
La Palma (78316)
09/0300 26 44 1.00
(22.77N 83.55W)
Casablanca (78325)
39
(23.17N 82.35W)

United States
Florida
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Palatka (K28J)
10/0615 26 43
(29.66N 81.69W)
Airglades Arpt. (K2IS)
10/0015 29i 41i
(26.74N 81.05W)
Keystone Airpark (K42J)
10/0855 999.4 10/0655 22 35
(29.84N 82.05W)
 Hurricane Milton 20

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Naples (KAPF)
09/2053 995.4 09/1610 29i 50i
(26.16N 81.78W)
Boca Raton (KBCT)
09/2053 25i 40i
(26.38N 80.11W)
Brooksville (KBKV)
10/0330 990.9 10/0222 44 66 6.49i
(28.47N 82.45W)
Bartow (KBOW)
10/0215 977.5i 10/0215 42i 58i
(27.94N 81.73W)
Crystal River (KCGC)
10/0415 997.3 10/0315 25 45 3.99
(28.87N 82.57W)
Clearwater (KCLW)
10/0035 985.7i 10/0035 26i 47i
(27.98N 82.76W)
Patrick SFB (KCOF)
10/0707 978.4 10/0357 43 62
(28.24N 80.61W)
Jacksonville Craig (KCRG)
10/0835 1000.7 10/0745 29 50
(30.34N 81.51W)
Daytona Beach (KDAB)
10/0753 988.8 10/0821 54 76 10.25
(29.18N 81.05W)
DeLand (KDED)
10/0010 29i 43i
(29.07N 81.28W)
Key West (KEYW)
09/1853 1002.1 09/2017 35 51
(24.56N 81.76W)
N Palm Beach Cnty. (KF45)
10/0620 997.3 10/0710 30 80
(26.85N 80.22W)
Fernandina Beach (KFHB)
10/0835 1002.1 10/0755 33 40
(30.62N 81.47W)
Flagler Cnty. Arpt. (KFIN)
10/0455 33i 48i
(29.47N 81.21W)
Ft. Lauderdale Intl. (KFLL)
09/2253 1000.5 09/1910 27 41
(26.08N 80.16W)
Ft. Myers Page Field (KFMY)
10/0041 990.2 09/2027 26i 48i 2.54i
(26.59N 81.86W)
Ft. Pierce (KFPR)
10/0630 988.8 10/0438 38i 58i 5.06
(27.49N 80.37W)
Perry (KFPY) (30.07N 83.58W) 10/0015 1005.5 10/0135 20 35
Ft. Lauderdale Executive
09/2240 1000.7 10/0520 28 45
(KFXE) (26.20N 80.18W)
Winter Haven (KGIF)
10/0210 976.3 10/0247 49i 76I 4.60i
(28.06N 81.75W)
Gainesville (KGNV)
10/0753 1000.7 10/0525 26 43
(29.69N 82.28W)
Homestead ARB (KHST)
09/2030 1001.7 09/2030 24 37
(25.48N 80.38W)
Hollywood (KHWO)
09/2253 1001.1 09/1853 24 43
(26.00N 80.24W)
Immokalee (KIMM)
10/0035 995.3 10/0410 28 50
(26.43N 81.40W)
Inverness (KINF)
10/0335 995.6 10/0435 31 50 6.03
(28.80N 82.32W)
Kissimmee (KISM)
10/0456 980.5 10/0728 42 49
(28.29N 81.44W)
Ocean Reef (KK70)
09/2035 1001.7 09/2055 20 35
(25.32N 80.28W)
Lakeland (KLAL)
10/0335 975.5 10/0355 42i 66i 13.13
(27.99N 82.02W)
 Hurricane Milton 21

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Leesburg (KLEE)
10/0415 992.2i 10/0431 43 72
(28.82N 81.81W)
Palm Beach Cnty. Park Arpt.
10/0455 1000.0 10/0535 33 49
(KLNA) (26.59N 80.09W)
MacDill AFB (KMCF)
10/0355 42i 58i
(27.86N 82.52W)
Orlando Intl. Arpt. (KMCO)
10/0553 981.4 10/0412 49 76 4.28
(28.43N 81.32W)
Miami Intl. Arpt. (KMIA)
09/2253 1001.4 09/2153 24 44
(25.79N 80.32W)
Melbourne Intl. Arpt. (KMLB)
10/0530 981.0i 10/0530 47 69 3.09
(28.10N 80.65W)
Marathon (KMTH)
09/2053 1002.0 09/1629 23 39 1.83
(24.73N 81.05W)
Jacksonville NAS (KNIP)
10/0853 999.9 10/1231 25 47
(30.23N 81.67W)
Key West NAS (KNQX)
09/1953 1001.2 09/2217 28 49 2.14
(24.58N 81.68W)
Mayport (KNRB)
10/0852 1000.4 10/0552 38 56
(30.40N 81.42W)
Okeechobee (KOBE)
10/0415 988.8 10/0355 36 60
(27.26N 80.85W)
Ocala (KOCF)
10/0351 998.4 10/0415 22 35 3.36
(29.17N 82.23W)
Orlando Executive (KORL)
10/0555 983.4 10/0313 43 63 6.87
(28.55N 81.34W)
Opa Locka (KOPF)
09/2253 1001.2 09/1910 28 45
(25.91N 80.28W)
Palm Beach Intl. (KPBI)
10/0453 999.0 10/0553 34 63
(26.69N 80.10W)
Punta Gorda (KPGD)
10/0132 982.7 10/0000 48 70 2.50
(26.91N 81.99W)
St. Petersburg Intl. (KPIE)
10/0053 982.5 10/0040 47i 72i 9.18i
(27.91N 82.69W)
Pompano Beach (KPMP)
09/2253 1000.7 09/2240 27 44
(26.25N 80.11W)
Ft. Myers SW FL Intl.
10/0145 992.2 10/0006 41i 56i 1.33
(KRSW) (26.54N 81.76W)
Sebring (KSEF)
10/0315 982.3 10/0335 42 63 2.68
(27.46N 81.34W)
Sanford (KSFB)
10/0659 985.4 10/0841 47 74 10.09
(28.78N 81.24W)
St. Augustine (KSGJ)
10/0856 998.4 10/0556 45 52
(29.96N 81.34W)
Albert Whitted Arpt. (KSPG)
10/0126 975.9 10/0047 58 88 18.88
(27.76N 82.63W)
Sarasota Intl. (KSRQ)
10/0023 959.7 10/0142 60i 89i 7.58i
(27.40N 82.56W)
Stuart (KSUA)
10/0455 993.9 10/0835 38i 55i
(27.18N 80.23W)
Tamiami Executive (KTMB)
09/2253 1001.1 09/1953 24 46
(25.64N 80.43W)
Tampa Intl. Arpt. (KTPA)
10/0059 982.7 10/0306 53 83 11.73
(27.96N 82.54W)
Shuttle Landing Site (KTTS)
10/0740 979.4 10/1055 35 60
(28.62N 80.70W)
 Hurricane Milton 22

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Tampa Executive (KVDF)

10/0155 980.7 10/0255 45 60
(28.01N 82.35W)
Venice (KVNC)
09/2255 972.6i 09/2215 43i 64i
(27.02N 82.44W)
Vero Beach (KVRB)
10/0659 986.8 10/0510 46 73 9.81
(27.66N 80.42W)
Titusville (KX21)
10/0730 981.0 10/1035 29 51
(28.62N 80.84W)
Sebastien (KX26)
10/0655 984.8i 10/0435 36i 53i
(27.81N 80.50W)
Williston (KX60)
10/0535 999.3 10/0215 27 43 3.10
(29.35N 82.47W)
Cape Canaveral Skid Strip
10/0755 976.9 10/0517 48 64
(KXMR) (28.47N 80.57W)
Zephyrhills (KZPH)
10/0135 984.8i 10/0135 37i 49i
(28.23N 82.32W)

Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) Sites

Long Key (LONF1) 37
09/2020 1000.1 08/1959 44
(24.84N 80.86W) (6.3m) (10-min)
Sand Key (SANF1) 45
09/1910 1004.7 09/1639 51
(24.46N 81.88W) (15m) (10-min)
St. Augustine (SAUF1) 53
10/0900 996.5 10/0700 65
(29.86N 81.26W) (16m) (10-min)
Tyndall AFB Tower (SGOF1)
09/2000 1003.7
(29.41N 84.86W)
Venice (VENF1) 68i
10/0000 962.7i 09/2340 84i
(27.07N 82.45W) (11.6m) (10-min)

National Ocean Service (NOS) Sites

Apalachicola (APCF1)
09/2106 1005.3 10/0006 26 35 1.20 1.04
(29.72N 84.98W) (7.0m)
Buckman Bridge (BKBF1)
10/0848 1000.2 10/0800 31 43 2.48 3.40 3.01
(30.19N 81.69W) (9.7m)
Blount Island (BLIF1)
10/0836 1001.0 10/0754 33 42
(30.39N 81.52W) (8.6m)
Cedar Key (CKYF1)
10/0442 997.8 10/0448 28 45 0.61 2.17 0.62
(29.13N 83.03W) (4.0m)
Clearwater Beach (CWBF1)
10/0048 985.7 10/0136 65 78 1.21 2.25 1.30
(27.98N 82.83W) (6.7m)
Dames Point (DMSF1)
3.04 3.66 2.25
(30.39N 81.56W)
East Bay (EBEF1)
10/0136 978.1 1.15 1.90 1.05
(27.92N 82.42W)
Fort Myers (FMRF1)
10/0030 990.2 10/0354 42 62 5.64 5.54 5.27
(26.65N 81.87W) (6.9m)
Fernanda Beach (FRDF1)
10/0848 1001.2 10/1100 21 34 4.29 4.54 1.81
(30.67N 81.47W) (6.6m)
Gadsden Cut (GCTF1)
10/0100 974.0i
(27.77N 82.52W)
Key West (KYWF1)
09/1924 1001.5 09/2324 33 45 1.44 1.28 1.23
(24.56N 81.81W) (15m)
 Hurricane Milton 23

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Lake Worth Pier (LKWF1)

10/0512 1000.0 09/2224 38 46 1.09 1.58 1.02
(26.61N 80.03W) (6.0m)
Southbank Riverwalk
2.32 3.21 2.57
(MSBF1) (30.32N 81.66W)
Middle Tampa Bay (MTBF1)
10/0042 64 85
(27.66N 82.60W) (5.7m)
Mayport (MYPF1)
10/0830 1001.0 10/0554 40 50 3.45 3.88 1.91
(30.40N 81.43W) (5.7m)
Naples Bay North (NBNF1)
5.78 5.77 5.08
(26.14N 81.79W)
Navy Fuel Depot (NFDF1)
10/0854 1000.6 10/0618 23 37
(30.40N 81.63W) (8.6m)
Old Port Tampa (OPTF1)
10/0100 977.9 10/0200 64 80 1.00 1.82 1.03
(27.86N 82.55W) (6.7m)
Port Everglades (PEGF1)
09/2248 1000.6 09/2042 36 43 0.97 1.67 1.11
(26.09N 80.12W) (45m)
Port Manatee (PMAF1)
10/0054 969.5 1.83 1.95 1.37
(27.64N 82.56W) (45m)
St. Petersburg (SAPF1)
10/0036 977.4 09/2312 48 65 1.07 1.86 1.08
(27.76N 82.63W) (45m)
TPA Cruise Term. (TPAF1)
10/0148 35 59
(27.93N 82.43W) (23m)
Trident Pier (TRDF1)
10/0748 977.2 10/0554 40 58 3.71 3.62 2.52
(28.42N 80.59W) (6.7m)
Virginia Key (VAKF1)
10/2236 1002.0 10/0154 30 36 1.31 1.57 1.34
(25.73N 80.16W) (10.2m)
Vaca Key (VAKF1)
09/1448 24 33 1.95 1.66 2.02
(24.71N 81.11W) (6.5m)

Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS)

Avon Park (APRF1)
10/0422 38 67 2.42
(27.60N 81.21W)
Avon Park North (AVZF1)
10/0101 32 60 2.37
(27.69N 81.33W)
Chekika (CHKF1)
09/2130 22 38 0.31
(25.63N 80.58W) (6.1m)
Central (CRAF1)
10/0557 40 8.27
(29.11N 81.63W) (6.1m)
Brighton (GHTF1)
10/0332 37 1.72
(27.12N 81.08W) (6.1m)
Lake George (LGRF1)
10/0657 37 6.28
(29.40N 81.81W) (6.1m)
Cache (LPIF1)
09/1930 20 35 0.46
(25.39N 80.68W) (6.1m)
Lake Wales (LWEF1)
10/0346 50 2.33
(27.44N 81.39W)
Lake Woodruff (LWQF1)
10/0917 43 10.75
(29.10N 81.37W)
Ochopee (OCOF1)
09/2303 25 43 1.14
(25.90N 81.32W) (6.1m)
Panther East (PSTF1)
09/1811 39 0.91
(26.17N 81.36W) (6.1m)
Raccoon Point (RACF1)
10/0222 34 1.61
(25.98N 80.90W) (6.1m)
 Hurricane Milton 24

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Miles City (RKIF1)

10/0245 37 1.12
(26.25N 81.30W) (6.1m)
Ding Darling NWR (TS755)
10/0117 30 55 2.78
(26.44N 82.10W) (6.1m)
Paisley (TS959)
10/0848 49 8.43
(29.00N 81.54W)
Lake Forestry Cntr. (TT686)
10/0631 25 47 6.38
(28.86N 81.80W)
Hatchineha (TT750)
10/0249 45 2.42
(28.02N 81.48W)
Kissimmee Bend (TT751)
10/0349 25 52 1.56
(27.48N 81.06W)

WeatherFlow
Alligator Reef (XALG)
09/1943 1002.0 09/1948 33 43
(24.85N 80.62W) (7.5m)
Belleair (XBLA)
10/0133 30 57
(26.37N 80.09W) (21m)
Boca Raton (XBOC)
10/0823 27 39
(26.37N 80.09W) (21m)
Boynton Beach (XBOY)
09/1926 23 38
(26.55N 80.05W) (11m)
Capri (XCAP)
09/2045 27 46
(26.04N 81.71W) (15m)
Clam Bayou (XCBN)
10/0112 43 67
(26.04N 81.71W) (10m)
Banana River (XCCB)
10/0731 978.3 10/1056 46 61
(28.36N 80.65W) (4.9m)
Carysfort Reef (XCFL)
09/2048 40 45
(25.23N 80.21W) (15m)
Charlotte Harbor YC (XCHL)
09/2339 50 71
(26.96N 82.08W) (10m)
Cocoa Beach (XCOA)
10/1054 37 70
(28.31N 80.63W) (10m)
Crandon (XCRN)
09/2242 26 37
(25.72N 80.15W) (7.9m)
Conservation (XCVN)
10/0551 27 38
(26.19N 80.30W) (10m)
Melbourne Dairy Rd. (XDAI)
10/0533 33 52
(28.04N 80.64W) (15m)
Dania Pier (XDAN)
09/2302 34 42
(26.06N 80.11W) (10m)
Biscayne Bay (XDGE)
09/2301 24 35
(25.77N 80.15W) (13m)
Desoto-Orange (XDSO)
10/0407 33 55
(25.77N 80.15W) (15m)
Dunedin Cswy. (XDUN)
10/0021 986.6 09/2356 45 64
(28.06N 82.18W) (6.1m)
Egmont Channel (XEGM)
10/0149 75 91
(28.06N 82.18W) (12m)
Miramar (XFLM)
09/1915 23 39
(25.97N 80.31W) (15m)
Griffin (XGRF)
10/0524 40 70
(28.08N 82.04W) (15m)
 Hurricane Milton 25

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Grove City (XGRV)

10/0215 54 74
(26.90N 82.31W) (20m)
Government Cut (XGVT)
10/0037 39 49
(25.75N 80.10W) (20m)
Hillsboro Inlet (XHBI)
09/2245 33 43
(26.26N 80.08W) (5.8m)
Hobe (XHOB)
10/1041 27 55
(27.05N 80.17W) (15m)
SummerHouse (XHSE)
10/0811 996.2 10/0641 42 55
(29.72N 81.23W) (12m)
Huguenot Park (XHUP)
10/0352 35i 44i
(30.42N 81.41W) (12m)
Indian River (XIND)
10/0713 983.8 10/0533 43 61
(27.96N 80.53W) (4.9m)
Jacksonville (XJAK)
10/0743 39 51
(30.39N 81.48W) (10m)
Jensen Beach (XJEN)
10/0456 992.5 10/0831 38 55
(27.22N 80.20W) (4.9m)
Juno Beach (XJUP)
09/2215 40 53
(26.89N 80.06W) (11m)
Biscayne Bay Light 20
(XKBS) (25.67N 80.19W) 09/2117 33 39
(6.1m)
Marathon Key (XKEY)
09/2038 27 41
(24.74N 80.98W) (13m)
Key West CG (XKYW)
09/1530 26 40
(24.57N 81.90W) (10m)
Land o’ Lakes (XLOL)
10/0338 31 54
(28.19N 82.52W) (15m)
Lewis (XLWS)
10/0655 38 56
(29.92N 81.33W) (15m)
Melbourne Beach BIS
10/0643 32 55
(XMBI) (27.90N 80.47W) (10m)
Mangonia Park (XMGN)
10/0723 29 49
(26.76N 80.07W) (23m)
Melbourne South (XMLS)
10/0512 46 63
(28.07N 80.58W) (5.8m)
North Miami (XNMI)
10/0441 21 39
(25.91N 80.16W) (17m)
Naples Zoo (XNPZ)
10/0346 26 49
(26.17N 81.79W) (11m)
New Smyrna Beach (XNSB)
10/0846 984.2 10/0936 56 75
(29.05N 80.90W) (10m)
Oakes Substation (XOAK)
10/0613 33 51
(26.91N 80.07W) (41m)
Titusville Parrish Park
(XPAR) 10/0737 980.8 10/1037 50 66
(26.09N 80.12W) (5.5m)
Port Everglades (XPEG)
09/2103 33 43
(26.09N 80.12W) (41m)
Port Everglades South
10/0551 21 35
(XPES) (26.06N 80.13W) (10m)
Reedy Lake (XRDY)
10/0739 40 61
(28.44N 81.63W) (15m)
Rocky Point (XRPT)
10/0403 41 54
(27.98N 80.55W) (5.7m)
 Hurricane Milton 26

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Sarasota (XSAR)
09/2341 42 67
(27.35N 82.51W) (20m)
Sanibel DB 4 (XSBI)
10/0247 987.1 10/0327 52 68
(26.47N 82.05W) (4.9m)
Skyway Fishing Pier (XSKY)
10/0212 65 90
(27.60N 82.65W) (16m)
Spring Lake (XSPR)
10/0809 30 53
(28.66N 81.41W) (15m)
St. George Island (XSTG)
09/2039 1004.0 09/2229 27 40
(29.67N 84.86W) (15m)
St. Lucie Plant (XSTL)
10/0633 990.1 09/2108 36 51
(27.35N 80.24W) (10m)
Tampa Bay Cut J (XTAM)
10/2309 50i 61i
(27.77N 82.57W) (15m)
Turkey Point (XTKY)
09/2018 35 48
(25.43N 80.35W) (19m)
Jacksonville Term. Channel
(XTRM) (30.34N 81.63W) 10/0857 1000.0 10/0802 33 42
(9.1m)
Tarpon Point (XTRP)
09/2306 40 62
(26.54N 82.00W) (10m)
Urban (XURB)
10/0419 35
(25.86N 80.37W) (15m)
Vero City (XVER)
10/0652 986.4 10/0532 28 63
(27.63N 80.39W) (10m)
Weeki Wachee (XWKI)
09/2338 30 55
(28.52N 82.57W) (23m)
West Palm Beach (XWPB)
10/0618 39
(26.66N 80.14W) (11m)

Kennedy Space Center/Cape Canaveral Mesonet Sites

Tower 714 (KSC08)
10/1040 45 80
(28.64N 80.75W) (16m)
Tower 1 (KSC09)
10/0505 44 69
(28.43N 80.57W) (16m)
Tower 3 (KSC10)
10/0555 54 74
(28.46N 80.53W) (16m)
Tower 2 (KSC13)
10/0555 50 70
(28.44N 80.56W) (16m)
Tower 6 (KSC18)
10/0520 35 67
(28.51N 80.56W) (16m)
Tower 108 (KSC19)
10/1125 43 71
(28.54N 80.57W) (16m)
Tower 211 (KSC20)
10/0525 33 68
(28.61N 80.62W) (16m)
Tower 303 (KSC22)
10/1105 34 65
(28.46N 80.57W) (16m)
Tower 403 (KSC28)
10/1100 45 68
(28.46N 80.59W) (16m)
Tower 412 (KSC29)
10/1050 45 76
(28.61N 80.67W) (16m)
Tower 415 (KSC30)
10/1110 34 66
(28.66N 80.70W) (16m)
Tower 506 (KSC33)
10/1100 34 70
(28.52N 80.64W) (16m)
 Hurricane Milton 27

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Tower 509 (KSC34)

10/1100 34 70
(28.56N 80.67W) (16m)
Tower 803 (KSC35)
10/1100 46 74
(28.56N 80.67W) (16m)
Tower 805 (KSC36)
10/1025 30 45
(28.52N 80.70W) (16m)
Tower 1102 (KSC42)
10/1105 48 74
(28.57N 80.59W) (16m)
Tower 3132 (KSC48)
10/1050 51 72
(28.63N 80.66W) (16m)

Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) Sites

Clewiston (AIRGL)
10/0615 35 63
(26.74N 81.05W) (6m)
Arcadia (ARCAD)
10/0045 38 63 3.54
(27.22N 81.84W) (10m)
Balm (BALM)
10/0315 45 68 9.32
(27.76N 82.22W) (10m)
Brooksville South (BKSFL)
10/0300 33 10.80
(28.47N 82.44W)
Belle Glade East (BLDF1)
10/0715 31 55 0.33
(26.66N 80.63W) (10m)
Bronson (BRZF1)
10/0330 34 2.61
(29.40N 82.59W) (10m)
Babson Park (BSPFL)
10/0245 43 68 5.55
(27.80N 81.55W) (10m)
Ocklawaha (CKHF1)
10/0245 38 3.27
(29.02N 81.97W) (10m)
Dade City (DACFL)
10/0330 32 61 14.94
(28.35N 82.20W) (10m)
Dover (DOVF1)
10/0400 32 47 0.32
(28.02N 82.23W) (10m)
Pierson (EPRF1)
10/0430 21 42 7.10
(29.22N 81.46W) (10m)
Immokalee (IMKF1)
10/0400 27 43 0.84
(26.46N 81.44W) (10m)
Jupiter (JPRFL)
10/0745 43
(26.98N 80.09W) (10m)
Joshua (JSHFL)
10/0130 23 54 4.25
(27.25N 81.61W) (10m)
Lake Alfred (KALF1)
10/0230 23 52 7.38
(28.10N 81.71W) (10m)
Okahumpka (KHPF1)
10/0530 32 61 5.04
(28.68N 81.89W) (10m)
Kenansville (KNCF1)
10/0400 44
(27.96N 81.05W) (10m)
Lecanto (LECFL)
10/0345 24 50 6.48
(26.98N 80.09W) (10m)
Ona (NNAF1)
10/0100 41 71 2.93
(27.40N 81.94W) (10m)
North Port (NPORT)
09/2345 37 70 3.50
(27.14N 82.34W) (10m)
Okeechobee (OKSF1)
10/0730 29 50
(27.33N 80.85W) (10m)
 Hurricane Milton 28

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Palmdale (PALF1)
10/0600 21 45
(26.92N 81.31W) (6m)
Ft. Pierce (PCEF1)
10/0530 27 63
(27.42N 80.40W) (10m)
Putnam Hall (PHAF1)
10/0830 34 2.39
(29.70N 81.99W) (10m)
Poinciana (PNAFL)
10/0400 26 54
(28.08N 81.41W) (10m)
Apopka (POPF1)
10/0445 29 55
(28.64N 81.55W) (10m)
Sebring (SEBF1)
10/0630 30 49 2.37
(27.42N 81.40W) (10m)
Homestead (STDF1)
09/2130 22 36 0.39
(29.69N 81.45W) (10m)
Hastings (STNF1)
10/0845 28 50 1.70
(29.69N 81.45W)
Tiger Creek (TGCFL)
10/0745 26 54 3.22
(29.69N 81.45W) (10m)
Umatilla (UMLF1)
10/0430 32 53 5.79
(28.93N 81.65W)
Avalon (VLNF1)
10/0645 31 62 6.21
(28.47N 81.65W)
Wellington (WELF1)
10/0630 34 59
(26.68N 80.30W) (10m)
Yeehaw Junction
10/0515 37 65
(27.70N 80.92W) (10m)

South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Sites

Lake Okeechobee North
10/0415 990.2 10/0415 44 52
(L001) (27.14N 80.79W) (11m)
Lake Okeechobee West
10/0030 34i 45i
(L005) (26.96N 80.94W) (11m)
Lake Okeechobee South
10/0415 993.3 10/0600 44 53
(L006) (26.82N 80.78W) (11m)
Lake Okeechobee Center
10/0515 43 53
(LZ40) (26.90N 80.79W) (11m)
Brighton (S75WX)
10/0345 986.8 10/0330 36
(27.12N 81.13W) (11m)
Ortona Lock (S78W)
10/0300 993.3 10/0545 32 49
(26.79N 81.30W) (11m)

WeatherSTEM/FSWN
Bay Point MS (0040W)
10/0035 975.9 10/0034 65
(27.71N 82.66W)
Titusville PAC Academy
(0063W) 10/0725 980.6 101001 37 53
(25.73N 80.16W) (7.9m)
Poinciana HS (0150W)
10/0439 973.0 10/0732 49 54
(28.23N 81.49W) (16m)
UM Rosenstiel (0234W)
09/2240 1000.4 09/2110 37 52
(25.73N 80.16W)
UM Health System (0235W)
09/2320 37 42
(25.78N 80.12W) (57m)
 Hurricane Milton 29

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

U Central Florida (0280W)

10/0831 37
(28.59N 81.20W) (10m)
UM Hecht (0323W)
09/2230 1001.0 09/2140 28 36
(25.71N 80.28W) (57m)
Lake Placid ES (0394W)
10/0246 981.6 10/0238 63
(27.29N 81.37W)
Marathon HS (0468W)
09/1910 1001.7 09/1650 27 37
(24.70N 81.08W) (10m)
Key West HS (0470W)
09/1830 1001.7 09/1600 29 35
(24.55N 81.78W) (10m)
Pinellas Cnty. EOC (0503W)
10/0046 979.8 10/0210 67
(27.89N 82.80W) (10m)
Eastpoint 2.9S (0569W)
09/2130 1003.8 09/1620 34 43
(29.71N 84.89W)
Clearwater PCEM (0579W)
10/0102 983.6 10/0100 70
(27.96N 82.80W)
Ponce Inlet (0834W)
10/0809 985.5 10/0906 60 86
(29.12N 80.95W) (9.1m)
Port Canaveral (1145W)
10/0735 977.8 10/0517 48 61
(28.41N 80.63W) (3.7m)
Palm Coast 1.6E (1334W)
10/0710 40 61
(29.57N 81.19W)
Maitland FR 45 (1341W)
10/0612 983.6 10/0842 44 50
(28.63N 81.36W) (9.1m)
Coral Springs PSB (1353W)
09/2240 1000.0 09/1930 32 39
(26.26N 80.27W)
Indian River FS 5 (1431W)
10/0709 985.4 10/0647 35 41
(27.71N 80.42W) (4.3m)
Largo FRS 41 (1438W)
10/0044 982.5 10/0223 57
(27.91N 82.79W)
Oak Hill FS 22 (1452W)
10/0735 984.9 10/0952 39 61
(28.87N 80.85W) (4.3m)
Daytona Beach BSH
(1455W) 10/0826 985.5 10/0011 30 39
(29.22N 81.00W) (12m)
Osceola Heritage Pk.
(1466W) 10/0516 979.0 10/0347 43 50
(28.30N 81.37W) (4.3m)
Holopaw (1469W)
10/0559 976.7 10/0317 42 51
(28.13N 81.08W) (4.3m)
St. Lucie EOC (1499W)
10/0614 990.1 10/0540 56 66
(27.37N 80.48W) (3.7m)
Hutchinson Island (1500W)
10/0620 31 37
(27.49N 80.30W) (3.4m)
Martin Cnty. EOC (1515W)
10/0635 994.0 10/0708 45 50
(27.17N 80.24W) (5.5m)
Indiantown (1517W)
10/0500 992.8 10/0807 33 42
(27.03N 80.48W) (5.5m)
Palm City (1521W)
10/0502 992.3 10/0852 41 47
(27.18N 80.38W) (3.1m)
Hobe Sound (1524W)
10/0549 995.0 10/0629 39 50
(27.06N 80.13W) (10m)
Jensen Beach (1526W)
10/0719 990.6 10/0818 49 58
(27.25N 80.20W) (7.9m)
Martin Cnty. South (1527W)
10/0537 995.8 10/0640 28 37
(26.99N 80.11W) (3.7m)
 Hurricane Milton 30

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Sunrise FS 39 (1532W)
09/2200 1001.4 09/1840 32 35
(26.15N 80.24W) (10m)
St. Marks Lighthouse
10/0140 1005.5 09/2240 27 35
(1560W) (30.07N 84.18W)
FPR WXEL (1567W)
10/0700 1000.7 10/0550 27 38
(26.49N 80.09W)
Tampa WUSF (1569W)
10/0131 981.0 10/0405 70
(28.06N 82.41W)
FPR WGCU (1571W)
09/2150 997.0 09/2330 24 37
(26.05N 81.70W) (6m)
Orlando FAMU (1597W)
10/0604 981.2 10/0924 28 34
(28.54N 81.38W) (9.1m)
Land o’ Lakes FHQ (1607W)
10/0153 986.4 10/0156 59
(28.22N 82.46W)
Merrill Barber Bridge
(1633W) 10/0643 986.5 10/0612 51 56
(27.65N 80.37W) (2.4m)
Lake Okeechobee Lock 7
(1636W) 10/0400 990.9 10/0350 42 57
(27.20N 80.83W) (7m)
Okeechobee EOC (1637W)
10/0409 989.5 10/0347 34 42
(27.25N 80.84W) (3.7m)
Okeechobee North (1639W)
10/0427 987.9 10/0220 51 57
(27.40N 80.81W) (3.7m)
Kissimmee Prairie (1642W)
10/0452 982.9 10/0828 43 47
(27.58N 81.04W) (3.7m)
Zephyrhills (1667W)
10/0328 984.9 10/0342 77
(28.23N 82.22W) (7.6m)
Ft. Lauderdale Intl. (1694W)
09/2300 1001.0 09/2000 30 45
(26.08N 80.14W) (10m)
Raymond James Stadium
(1754W) 10/0148 977.0 10/0306 79
(27.98N 82.50W) (55m)
Windermere Prep School
(1761W) 10/0538 983.7 10/0722 43 54
(28.48N 81.57W) (2.4m)
Lake Louisa SP (1777W)
10/0046 983.8 10/0402 43
(28.43N 81.73W) (3.1m)
AlertTampa Downtown
(1779W) 10/0116 978.5 10/0313 59
(27.95N 82.45W) (43m)
MDC Wolfson (1797W)
10/0150 23 42
(25.80N 80.10W)
MDC North (1800W)
10/0110 30 37
(25.88N 80.25W)
MDC Hialeah (1801W)
10/0220 33 43
(25.86N 80.32W)
Winter Springs HS (1805W)
10/0620 984.3 10/0909 48 51
(28.70N 81.27W)
MDC Homestead (1807W)
09/1930 1001.4 09/2130 34 44
(25.47N 80.47W)
Tampa Intl. Arpt. (1829W)
10/0048 974.5 10/0246 79
(27.98N 82.53W)
Sunny Isles Beach (1843W)
09/2300 1001.7 10/0440 23 34
(24.77N 80.91W) (25m)
 Hurricane Milton 31

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Duck Key (1846W)

09/1930 1002.4 09/2000 29 36
(24.77N 80.91W) (15m)
Delray Beach North (1847W)
09/2120 40 47
(26.47N 80.06W) (18m)
Idyllwilde ES (1909W)
10/0623 986.1 10/0859 47 55
(28.79N 81.31W)
Glades EOC (1915W)
10/0250 993.6 10/0050 34 51
(26.84N 81.12W)
Moore Haven Alvin Ward
Park (1918W) 10/0400 993.3 01/0540 44 49
(26.84N 81.08W) (10m)
Buckhead Ridge (1920W)
10/0410 990.6 10/0150 30 43
(27.14N 80.88W)
Harvey Pond Park (1978W)
10/0350 992.0 10/0430 34 50
(26.99N 81.07W) (11m)
Palm Beach (1993W)
10/0510 998.0 10/0620 31 49
(26.70N 80.04W) (7m)
Pine Crest School (2000W)
09/2250 1001.0 09/2030 23 37
(26.20N 80.12W)
Istokpoga Marsh (2035W)
10/0246 58
(27.28N 81.27W)
Muse EMS 3 (2045W)
10/0140 992.6 10/0550 36 50
(26.80N 81.43W) (12m)
San Carlos Park F54
10/0003 991.5 10/0316 60
(2048W) (26.50N 81.81W)
Yeehaw Junction (2052W)
10/0542 982.0 10/0855 40 45
(27.72N 80.95W)
Shingle Creek Rgnl. Park
10/0514 980.5 10/0850 38 41
(2069W) (28.31N 81.45W)
Kissimmee Lakefront Park
10/0515 980.1 10/0324 45 54
(2073W) (28.29N 81.41W)
Durbin Memorial Park
10/0535 980.3 10/0834 32 41
(2077W) (28.31N 81.35W)
Bonita Springs F24 (2112W)
09/2328 992.7 10/0259 57
(26.34N 81.74W)
Osceola Reunion (2115W)
10/0451 979.1 10/0617 31 39
(28.26N 81.60W)
Sarasota Exactech (2172W)
10/0023 960.4 09/2344 67
(27.40N 82.55W)
BTF North (2173W)
09/2128 992.1 09/2128 50 61
(27.01N 80.19W)
Hillsborough Cnty. TSP
10/0145 977.9 10/0147 63
(2196W) (27.97N 82.35W)
Osceola Cnty. EOC (2197W)
10/0521 979.2 10/0927 39 46
(28.28N 81.34W)
Wedgefield OF86 (2220W)
10/0654 981.8 10/0440 27 35
(28.50N 81.07W)
Lockhart OF40 (2221W)
10/0607 984.7 10/0202 32 37
(28.63N 81.45W)
Florida Mall OF53 (2222W)
10/0559 982.6 10/0755 37 43
(28.44N 81.40W)
S Goldenrod OF68 (2224W)
10/0613 982.2 10/0757 31 41
(28.52N 81.28W)
Lithia (2236W)
10/0230 971.1 10/0353 59
(27.78N 82.16W)
 Hurricane Milton 32

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Ruskin (2237W)
10/0118 971.1 10/0301 45
(27.71N 82.39W)
E Lake Tohopekaliga
10/0553 980.3 10/0300 42 50
(2265W) (28.33N 81.27W)
Coconut Creek (2268W)
09/2300 1001.0 10/0540 24 36
(26.80N 81.43W)
Everglades Airpark (2303W)
09/2220 998.7 09/2250 29 42
(25.85N 81.39W) (12m)
Collier EOC (2308W)
10/0250 39 51 2.16
(26.11N 81.69W)

Keys Energy Sites

Big Coppit Key (KEYS13149)
09/1740 39 48
(24.60N 81.65W) (18m)
Big Pine Key (KEYS15149)
09/1511 29 40
(24.67N 81.35W) (18m)
Key West (KEYS4149)
09/1250 22 38
(24.56N 81.80W) (11m)
Stock Island (KEYS6149)
09/1953 34 46
(24.56N 81.73W) (10m)
Cudjoe Key (KEYSCKS)
09/2146 27 40
(24.66N 81.48W) (10m)

Coastal Carolina University (CCU) Sites

Dania Beach (IRNS1)
09/2247 998.7 09/2257 37
(26.06N 80.11W)
Pahokee 11ENE (SSQPU)
10/0527 996.0 10/0628 34
(26.86N 80.48W)
USACE Lake Okeechobee
10/0534 993.3 10/0714 49
(SSXGY) (26.80N 80.70W)
LaBelle 13 SE (USS03)
10/0140 991.9 10/0400 38
(26.66N 81.26W)
Clewiston 4SE (USS04)
10/0311 995.3 10/0331 43
(26.71N 80.90W)
Pahokee 12E (USS05)
09/2041 994.3 10/0713 40
(26.80N 80.48W)
Belle Glade 5ENE (USS06)
10/0411 997.0 10/0713 40
(26.71N 80.59W)

Public/Other
Goethe SF SRWMD (274)
3.31
(29.20N 82.64W)
Tamarac (AP019)
09/2240 1001.4 10/0525 34
(26.22N 80.28W)
Cudjoe Key (C0925)
09/1903 1003.4 09/1333 28 39 2.14
(24.65N 81.48W) (10m)
Boynton Beach (C4740)
10/0702 1000.4 10/0822 34
(26.53N 80.08W)
Boca Raton (C6162)
10/0452 35
(26.34N 80.21W)
Jupiter (C8019)
10/0719 996.0 10/0719 38
(26.97N 80.10W)
 Hurricane Milton 33

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Royal Palm Beach (D6869)

10/0514 997.3 10/0449 43 1.45
(26.80N 80.31W)
West Palm Beach (D7488)
10/0446 998.0 10/0620 22 41
(26.72N 80.16W)
Lauderdale by the Sea
09/2240 1002.7 09/2225 37
(E4311) (26.21N 80.09W)
Pembroke Pines (F1651)
09/1955 1002.4 09/1950 29 38
(26.02N 80.40W)
Alligator Point (F9222)
09/2200 1004.4 09/2205 23 35
(29.90N 84.40W)
Lake Worth (G0860)
10/0444 999.0 10/0806 21 37
(26.60N 80.18W)
WFO Key West (KKEY)
09/2013 50
(24.55N 81.79W) (19m)
WFO Ruskin (KTBW)
10.44
(28.02N 82.35W)
Fort Pierce 8.0W (NCSF1)
4.15
(27.47N 80.47W)
Port St. Lucie (PSLF1)
3.11
(27.26N 80.36W)
Rookery Bay NERRS
(RKXF1) (26.03N 81.70W) 09/2315 23 45
(19m)
Holmes Beach UF (UFS1)
10/0021 965.3 10/0200 73 92
(27.50N 82.71W) (10m)
Venice Beach UF (UFS2)
10/0020 960.5 10/0155 79 93
(27.10N 82.46W) (10m)
Lakewood Ranch (iCyclone)
10/0025 960.4
(27.39N 82.45W)
St. Petersburg (iCyclone)
10/0028 977.6
(27.79N 82.67W)
Sarasota (iCyclone)
10/0021 959.7
(27.38N 82.55W)
Tampa (iCyclone)
10/0058 980.4
(27.95N 82.52W)

US Geological Survey (USGS) Storm Tide Sensors

FLLEE35747 (26.48N 82.18W) 5.86 5.46
FLSAR25010
5.58 5.04
(27.36N 82.62W)
FLSAR26282
7.32 6.74
(27.07N 82.45W)

USGS Streamgages
8.86
Punta Gorda Shell Creek
(NGV
(2298202) (26.98N 81.91W)
D29)
 Hurricane Milton 34

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Georgia
National Ocean Service (NOS) Sites
Fort Pulaski (FPKG1)
10/1054 1007.5 10/1124 23 31 3.16 4.64 1.19
(32.03N 80.90W) (6.5m)
Kings Bay (KBMG1)
10/0848 1001.9 4.11 1.64
(30.79N 81.49W)

WeatherFlow
Jekyll Island (XJEK)
10/0557 26 36
(31.05N 81.41W) (10m)
Savannah (XSEL)
10/1104 1006.0 10/1019 37 45
(32.01N 80.81W) (11m)
Tybee North (XTYB)
10/1111 1006.0 10/0956 28 37
(32.02N 80.84W) (10m)

Public/Other
Sapelo Island NERRS
10/0915 1004.8 10/1415 25 35
(XTYB) (32.02N 80.84W) (10m)

South Carolina
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Charleston (KCHS)
10/0756 1009.9 10/1820 20 34
(32.90N 80.04W)
Hilton Head (KHXD)
10/0835 1008.5 09/1250 22 35
(32.21N 80.70W)

National Ocean Service (NOS) Sites

Charleston (CHTS1)
10/1142 1009.8 10/0800 30 38 2.49 3.82 1.19
(32.78N 79.92W) (16m)

WeatherFlow
Calibogue Sound (XCLB)
10/1056 1007.0 10/1101 31 39
(32.10N 80.84W) (5.8m)
Folly South End (XFSE)
10/1122 1008.0 10/1442 26 36
(32.64N 79.97W) (11m)
Shutes Folly (XSHF)
10/0808 1009.0 10/1633 28 36
(32.77N 79.91W) (13m)
Fort Sumter (XSUM)
10/1131 1009.0 10/1621 27 36
(32.75N 79.87W) (12m)

Bahamas
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Freeport (MYGF)
10/0706 1002.1 10/1200 24 38
(22.14N 94.11W)
 Hurricane Milton 35

Minimum Sea Maximum Surface

Level Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) Sites

Settlement Point (SPGF1) 41
10/0800 1001.1 10/0920 53
(26.70N 79.00W) (6.6m) (10-min)

Weather Underground Sites

Little Hog Cay (INORTHAB2)
10/???? 1004.8 10/1549 56 63
(26.95N 77.60W)

a Date/time is for sustained wind when both sustained and gust are listed.
b Except as noted, sustained wind averaging periods for C-MAN and land-based reports are 2 min; buoy averaging
periods are 8 min.
c Storm surge is water height above normal astronomical tide level.
d For most locations, storm tide is water height above the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88). Storm
tide is water height above Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) for NOS stations in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
and Barbados.
e Estimated inundation is the maximum height of water above ground. For some USGS storm tide pressure sensors,
inundation is estimated by subtracting the elevation of the sensor from the recorded storm tide. For other USGS
storm tide sensors and USGS high-water marks, inundation is estimated by subtracting the elevation of the land
derived from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) from the recorded and measured storm tide. For NOS tide gauges,
the height of the water above Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) is used as a proxy for inundation.
i Incomplete record.
 Hurricane Milton 36

Table 4. Selected storm-total rainfall amounts from various sites for Hurricane Milton, 5–10
October 2024. When possible, stations are sorted by station identifier.

Total Total
Location Rainfall Location Rainfall
(in) (in)

United States
Florida
Hydrometeorological Automated Data System (HADS) Sites (NWS)
Fort Lonesome Lakeland 6.0WNW
3.66 12.10
(ASPF1) (27.73N 82.07W) (MCNF1) (28.03N 82.25W)
Bartow Myakka Head 8.0W
5.20 8.15
(BARF1) (27.90N 81.82W) (MKHF1) (27.47N 82.21W)
Oldsmar Largo McKay Creek
13.68 16.88
(BOLF1) (28.09N 82.69W) (MKYF1) (27.91N 82.82W)
Tarpon Springs Thonotosassa 3.0N
11.10 13.62
(BTRF1) (28.14N 82.66W) (MPRF1) (28.10N 82.31W)
Citrus Park Tampa North Archie Creek
12.32 13.75
(CPKF1) (28.07N 82.57W) (NACF1) (27.90N 82.35W)
Curlew Creek North Port 6.0 NNE
13.05 4.31
(CRCF1) (28.04N 82.79W) (NPOF1) (27.11N 82.20W)
Drexel Bexley Well Palm Harbor
12.17 12.52
(DREF1) (28.25N 82.51W) (PHBF1) (28.07N 82.67W)
Elfers Clearwater Alligator Creek
9.02 12.67
(ELFF1) (28.21N 82.67W) (PIAF1) (27.97N 82.73W)
Temple Terrace Fiva 2W
8.20 10.24
(FOWF1) (28.05N 82.36W) (PIFF1) (28.33N 82.54W)
Lorraine 2.0SW Sulphur Spring Roy Haynes Park
5.28 13.61
(FRUF1) (27.42N 82.43W) (RHPF1) (28.06N 82.49W)
Fort Meade Riverview
4.92 11.91
(FTMF1) (27.75N 81.78W) (RVWF1) (27.87N 82.33W)
Pinellas Park St. Joe Creek Rye
14.49 6.90
(JPCF1) (27.81N 82.72W) (RYEF1) (27.51N 82.37W)
Knights 4.0NW Wesley Chapel 2.0SW
11.50 11.40
(KNTF1) (28.14N 82.15W) (TRCF1) (28.21N 82.35W)
Lithia 4.0W Wimauma 4.0SW
9.67 7.47
(LITF1) (27.87N 82.21W) (WIMF1) (27.67N 82.35W)
New Port Richey 3.0NE Richland
7.31 14.36
(LWOF1) (28.28N 82.67W) (WRCF1) (28.27N 82.10W)

NWS Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) Sites

Bartow Nettles Island
6.28 5.01
(BABF1) (27.90N 81.84W) (NETF1) (27.29N 80.22W)
Bradenton 5.0ESE Ocala
5.39 3.90
(BRAF1) (27.45N 82.50W) (OCAF1) (29.16N 82.08W)
Clermont 9.0S Orlando West
6.14 14.83
(CLRF1) (28.46N 81.72W) (ORWF1) (28.51N 81.55W)
Cross City 1.0E Plant City
12.50 13.05
(CRSF1) (29.63N 83.11W) (PLCF1) (28.02N 82.14W)
Fort Pierce Mt. Plymouth
4.43 15.23
(FPCF1) (27.44N 80.35W) (PLTF1) (28.80N 81.54W)
Hastings 4.0NE Scottsmoor
9.81 7.34
(HTGF1) (29.77N 81.47W) (SCMF1) (28.73N 80.88W)
 Hurricane Milton 37

Total Total
Location Rainfall Location Rainfall
(in) (in)
Inverness Stuart
7.17 3.32
(INVF1) (28.80N 82.31W) (STRF1) (27.19N 80.24W)
Kissimmee St. Petersburg
3.98 10.77
(KSSF1) (28.28N 81.42W) (SZPF1) (27.80N 82.73W)
Lisbon Titusville
7.25 8.33
(LSBF1) (28.87N 81.78W) (TITF1) (28.62N 80.82W)
Mountain Lake Wauchula
4.77 4.64
(LWLF1) (27.94N 81.60W) (WAUF1) (27.55N 81.80W)
Melbourne
3.55
(MLBF1) (28.10N 80.63W)

Southwest Florida Water Management District Sites

Rock Ridge ROMP 88 Rutland ROMP 112
10.99 5.80
(17530) (28.31N 81.91W) (23022) (28.88N 82.23W)
Combee WTP Sumter
12.21 7.12
(17565) (28.11N 81.91W) (23029) (28.86N 82.20W)
Cumpressco ROMP 89 Bushnell
8.45 7.79
(17588) (28.36N 82.04W) (23048) (28.66N 82.11W)
Lake Gibson Lake Okahumpka
12.21 7.17
(17620) (28.10N 81.95W) (23122) (28.81N 82.00W)
Old Polk City ROMP 76 Wildwood
11.62 5.71
(17657) (28.18N 81.83W) (23133) (28.89N 82.03W)
Four Corners ROMP 40 LP-6 Coleman
3.10 8.58
(18123) (27.65N 82.05W) (23149) (28.80N 82.09W)
Welcome Tower Chinsegut Hill
5.50 9.25
(18124) (27.75N 81.89W) (23402) (28.62N 82.37W)
Pierce Richloam Tower
6.20 8.61
(18128) (27.85N 81.97W) (23403) (28.50N 82.11W)
Starling ROMP 123 Leslie Heifner
6.21 8.30
(18133) (27.68N 82.25W) (23504) (28.75N 82.23W)
Thatcher ROMP 48 Trilby
6.08 12.53
(18151) (27.74N 82.14W) (23547) (28.48N 82.18W)
Balm Park ROMP 49 Spring Lake Boyett Grove
7.71 9.32
(18153) (27.76N 82.25W) (23571) (28.50N 82.30W)
Apollo Beach ROMP TR9-2 Johnson Pond
11.42 4.59
(18154) (27.77N 82.39W) (23583) (29.00N 82.38W)
Cristina ROMP 62 Tsala Apoka Outlow ROMP 116
6.44 5.33
(18159) (27.86N 82.31W) (23597) (28.96N 82.34W)
Lake Medard ROMP 61 Fort Ogden ROMP 16.5
7.86 3.66
(18175) (27.91N 82.16W) (24361) (27.06N 81.88W)
S-160 Lake Hamilton
11.03 5.79
(18295) (27.96N 82.37W) (25151) (28.03N 81.62W)
DV-1 Dover Coley
14.73 3.55
(18298) (27.99N 82.21W) (25155) (27.74N 81.53W)
BR-2 Lake Iola Lake Henry
10.32 6.72
(18327) (28.39N 82.29W) (25170) (28.08N 81.66W)
McIntosh Sunshine Foliage World
14.81 3.26
(18684) (28.07N 82.14W) (25172) (27.50N 81.75W)
Green Swamp Kuhlman ROMP 28
15.69 3.08
(18828) (28.22N 82.02W) (25184) (27.37N 81.43W)
Alston Wet Prairie Bowling Green
14.98 4.80
(18831) (28.18N 82.09W) (25191) (27.64N 81.84W)
 Hurricane Milton 38

Total Total
Location Rainfall Location Rainfall
(in) (in)
Cypress Creek Ona ROMP 31
10.90 3.03
(18909) (28.26N 82.40W) (25192) (27.45N 81.92W)
Blackwater Creek Zolfo Springs ROMP 30
12.67 4.86
(19390) (28.13N 82.18W) (25195) (27.46N 81.80W)
Meadow Pointe Wetland Brownsville School ROMP 26
11.36 3.61
(19417) (28.18N 82.30W) (25210) (27.30N 81.82W)
Fox Ridge Subdivision Shell Creek ROMP 11
10.00 3.78
(19419) (28.22N 82.29W) (25225) (26.98N 81.94W)
Sulphur Springs Caspersen Beach ROMP TR4-1
13.73 5.19
(19436) (28.02N 82.45W) (25600) (27.06N 82.44W)
S-155 Laurel Park ROMP TR5-1
9.28 4.75
(19437) (28.09N 82.35W) (25605) (27.14N 82.45W)
S-163 Osprey ROMP 20
11.01 5.43
(19447) (28.07N 82.35W) (25607) (27.19N 82.48W)
S-161 Myakka River SP
13.62 3.78
(19448) (28.02N 82.37W) (25608) (27.24N 82.31W)
S-159 Mac Arthur ROMP 19X
7.68 3.10
(19471) (28.04N 82.34W) (25604) (27.17N 82.25W)
S-162 Oak Knoll ROMP 39
10.06 4.92
(19474) (27.98N 82.35W) (25611) (27.59N 82.25W)
Island Ford Bowlees Creek ROMP TR7-1
10.09 6.85
(19487) (28.15N 82.60W) (25618) (27.42N 82.58W)
Crescent Lake Oneco ROMP 112
10.51 5.80
(19488) (28.15N 82.59W) (25619) (27.44N 82.55W)
Race Track Road Myakka City ROMP 23
12.67 3.84
(19498) (28.07N 82.64W) (25622) (27.32N 82.18W)
Bay Lake Waterbury ROMP 33
10.71 5.33
(19509) (28.07N 82.50W) (25623) (27.46N 82.26W)
Eldridge-Wilde 2.0N Rubonia ROMP TR8-1
10.12 10.42
(19526) (28.17N 82.65W) (25626) (27.58N 82.55W)
St. Pete Jackson 26A Payne Terminal ROMP TR SA-1
12.19 4.37
(19550) (28.13N 82.52W) (25654) (27.58N 82.55W)
Ozello ROMP TR21-2 Flatford Swamp
4.07 3.68
(20061) (28.85N 82.60W) (25802) (27.39N 82.14W)
Starkey Falkner Farms
8.74 4.15
(20384) (28.25N 82.65W) (25812) (27.40N 82.21W)
Kent Grove Utopia ROMP 22
9.92 4.33
(20442) (28.34N 82.52W) (25829) (27.58N 82.55W)
Cross Bar Knights Trail ROMP TR5-3
10.67 3.74
(20476) (28.41N 82.40W) (26020) (27.16N 82.40W)
Summer Tree Lake Lowery
7.42 5.60
(20461) (28.33N 82.63W) (26344) (28.13N 81.70W)
Wolfe Webster City
9.65 9.36
(20528) (28.38N 82.50W) (670223) (28.61N 82.05W)
Engle Park Pana Vista
7.74 8.06
(20546) (28.39N 82.63W) (670224) (28.81N 82.14W)
Horse Lame ROMP 105 Davenport ROMP 74X
9.48 4.07
(20572) (28.56N 82.40W) (670225) (28.16N 81.57W)
Ringgold ROMP 107 Warm Mineral Springs ROMP 8
7.33 3.31
(20728) (28.66N 82.46W) (670227) (27.08N 82.25W)
SWFWMD Headquarters FL-MB-550 Rain
9.97 12.33
(20882) (28.47N 82.45W) (727848) (28.08N 82.34W)
Buccaneer Bay Torrey ROMP 41
8.05 5.08
(20912) (28.52N 82.58W) (749784) (27.60N 81.84W)
 Hurricane Milton 39

Total Total
Location Rainfall Location Rainfall
(in) (in)
Lecanto West Desoto ROMP 35
5.37 3.00
(20973) (28.85N 82.50W) (781076) (27.29N 82.04W)
Chassahowitzka Peck Sink Preserve
7.06 9.52
(21033) (28.72N 82.55W) (802217) (28.54N 82.40W)
Sawgrass Lake Saddle Creek
11.84 6.29
(21191) (27.84N 82.67W) (838153) (27.94N 81.85W)
Safety Harbor ROMP TR14-1 Pretty Lake
11.63 10.02
(22878) (28.00N 82.69W) (906280) (28.10N 82.56W)
Gulfport Cone Ranch TP-2
14.48 14.60
(22894) (27.72N 82.69W) (908513) (28.09N 82.08W)
S-551 Southern Comfort ROMP TR12-3
8.94 12.09
(22898) (28.05N 82.71W) (948847) (28.00N 82.55W)
Floral City Pool Hackett White Trout Lake
7.74 10.73
(22907) (28.75N 82.28W) (954572) (28.04N 82.49W)
Holder Lake Hanna West
4.77 9.95
(22926) (28.99N 82.35W) (957575) (28.14N 82.45W)
Bird Creek Crews Lake East
3.08 11.19
(22970) (29.01N 82.75W) (958653) (28.41N 82.49W)
Romeo
3.19
(22977) (29.22N 82.44W)

Manatee County Rain Gauges

Frog Creek Frye Canal
9.21 6.09
(MCRG1) (27.58N 82.51W) (MCRG25) (27.56N 82.37W)
Gamble Creek Myakka Maintenance Yard
4.93 3.33
(MCRG4) (27.53N 82.40W) (MCRG34) (27.35N 82.17W)
Wares Creek 9th St Rattlesnake Slough
8.54 5.10
(MCRG5) (27.47N 82.57W) (MCRG35) (27.42N 82.49W)
Government Hammock Buffalo Canal
6.48 6.04
(MCRG7) (27.54N 82.50W) (MCRG36) (27.59N 82.44W)
Palma Sola Drain Pearce Drain Tallevast Rd
8.44 5.02
(MCRG8) (27.47N 82.64W) (MCRG38) (27.40N 82.52W)
Sugarhouse Cedar Hammock South
5.40 6.86
(MCRG10) (27.48N 82.53W) (MCRG39) (27.43N 82.58W)
Aztec Cove Curiosity Creek
10.37 8.52
(MCRG11) (27.52N 82.64W) (MCRG40) (27.63N 82.45W)
Public Works Office Cow Pen Slough Lindrick Ln
7.52 4.76
(MCRG13) (27.48N 82.55W) (MCRG42) (27.39N 82.24W)
McMullen Creek Lake Manatee
9.24 5.32
(MCRG14) (27.57N 82.54W) (MCRG43) (27.47N 82.27W)
Slaughter Drain Long Creek
5.32 3.11
(MCRG15) (27.55N 82.48W) (MCRG44) (27.41N 82.13W)
Bowlees 44th Ave E Fort Hammer Park
6.08 6.05
(MCRG16) (27.46N 82.55W) (MCRG45) (27.53N 82.43W)
Canal Road Drain Braden River 44th Ave E
6.63 5.20
(MCRG19) (27.53N 82.55W) (MCRG47) (27.46N 82.49W)
Carr Drain Clay Gully Bridge
8.48 3.96
(MCRG20) (27.53N 82.57W) (MCRG48) (27.29N 82.25W)

Sarasota County Rain Gauges

 Hurricane Milton 40

Total Total
Location Rainfall Location Rainfall
(in) (in)
PH-5 Bahia Vista WH-2 Myrtle Park
9.85 4.85
(400) (27.32N 82.48W) (505) (27.37N 82.53W)
PH-4 Pine Craft HUD-2 Arlington St
7.46 5.70
(405) (27.32N 82.51W) (530) (27.32N 82.53W)
PH-2 Meadows GC CAT-1 C Sarasota Pkwy
4.80 5.43
(420) (27.37N 82.48W) (575) (27.23N 82.49W)
PH-3 B. Jones Golf EL-1 Pinehurst St
3.89 5.42
(440) (27.35N 82.49W) (600) (27.24N 82.51W)
PH-9 Red Bug Slough Holiday B
6.29 5.20
(450) (27.28N 82.51W) (610) (27.24N 82.50W)
WH-1 Tripar
6.20
(500) (27.38N 82.53W)

Lee County Rain Gauges

Lake Fairways Agualinda Water Plant
3.80 3.00
(18) (26.74N 81.94W) (45) (26.59N 82.02W)
North Reservoir Bokeelia Boat Ramp
3.36 3.44
(21) (26.71N 81.84W) (47) (26.69N 82.15W)
Fort Myers Beach St. James City
3.20 4.40
(26) (26.49N 81.93W) (48) (26.51N 82.09W)
Cecil Webb RG-1 Bowman’s Beach
3.08 3.06
(27) (26.89N 81.96W) (49) (26.46N 82.15W)

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) Sites

Archer 5.5E Oakland 2.6SSE
3.46 10.61
(FL-AL-2) (29.53N 82.43W) (FL-OR-62) (28.52N 81.61W)
Micanopy 2.1NNE Meadow Wood 1.1SSE
3.27 4.87
(FL-AL-51) (29.53N 82.27W) (FL-OR-74) (28.37N 81.36W)
Gainesville 3.0WNW Apoka 2.6ENE
3.00 10.30
(FL-AL-97) (29.68N 82.39W) (FL-OR-81) (28.70N 81.47W)
Palm Shores 4.3NNW Bithlo 0.8NW
5.63 7.81
(FL-BV-20) (28.24N 80.68W) (FL-OR-85) (28.58N 81.12W)
Titusville 3.5NW Campbell 1.4NNW
6.09 4.77
(FL-BV-38) (28.63N 80.86W) (FL-OS-31) (28.27N 81.46W)
Rockledge 1.8NNE St. Cloud 8.0E
8.56 4.87
(FL-BV-47) (28.35N 80.72W) (FL-OS-36) (28.25N 81.16W)
Merritt Island 3.8N Kissimmee 3.7SSW
6.96 3.00
(FL-BV-54) (28.37N 80.66W) (FL-OS-41) (28.25N 81.43W)
Cocoa 4.6NW Dundee 0.3E
6.49 5.33
(FL-BV-85) (28.42N 80.80W) (FL-PK-60) (28.02N 81.85W)
Indialantic Winter Haven 6.1SW
4.96 6.60
(FL-BV-107) (28.12N 80.58W) (FL-PK-71) (27.98N 81.79W)
Melbourne 7.7WNW Loughman 2.0ESE
5.61 4.96
(FL-BV-111) (28.15N 80.72W) (FL-PK-78) (28.22N 81.54W)
West Melbourne 1.6WNW Auburndale 3.1WSW
4.10 10.28
(FL-BV-137) (28.09N 80.70W) (FL-PK-81) (28.05N 81.84W)
Palm Bay 1.0NNE Bartow 1.9NW
5.42 7.39
(FL-BV-151) (28.01N 80.65W) (FL-PK-84) (27.91N 81.87W)
Port Charlotte 4.0WSW Lakeland 5.8NE
6.62 11.09
(FL-CH-30) (26.96N 82.17W) (FL-PK-87) (28.10N 81.89W)
 Hurricane Milton 41

Total Total
Location Rainfall Location Rainfall
(in) (in)
North Port 1.2SSE Mulberry 0.4SW
3.64 7.49
(FL-CH-35) (27.03N 82.19W) (FL-PK-94) (27.90N 81.98W)
Naples 5.7E Crooked Lake Park 4.5WSW
3.11 3.10
(FL-CR-12) (26.10N 81.72W) (FL-PK-98) (27.81N 81.66W)
Golden Gate 2.2SW South Pasadena 1.0NE
5.57 12.78
(FL-CR-62) (26.16N 81.73W) (FL-PN-6) (27.76N 82.73W)
Naples Manor 2.3ENE Dunedin 2.8ESE
3.84 11.66
(FL-CR-71) (26.08N 81.69W) (FL-PN-36) (28.03N 82.76W)
Crystal River 4.7ESE St. Petersburg 2.5S
6.57 20.40
(FL-CT-8) (28.87N 82.53W) (FL-PN-81) (27.72N 82.65W)
Beverly Hills 1.0ENE Gulfport 0.6SSE
6.55 12.78
(FL-CT-49) (28.92N 82.45W) (FL-PN-87) (27.74N 82.71W)
Homosassa 6.0SE Pinellas Park 1.7ENE
7.51 15.03
(FL-CT-29) (28.73N 82.54W) (FL-PN-90) (27.87N 82.68W)
Citrus Springs 1.3WNW Largo 1.5SSW
5.04 12.11
(FL-CT-37) (29.01N 82.49W) (FL-PN-104) (27.89N 82.79W)
Hernando 3.9WSW Feather Sound 1.3S
6.42 11.01
(FL-CT-38) (28.88N 82.43W) (FL-PN-105) (27.89N 82.66W)
Inverness 1.6SE Tarpon Springs 3.1E
7.21 10.02
(FL-CT-45) (28.82N 82.32W) (FL-PN-116) (28.15N 82.73W)
Keystone Heights 10.0NE Seminole 0.9S
4.38 13.76
(FL-CY-38) (29.86N 81.90W) (FL-PN-131) (27.83N 82.79W)
Green Cove Springs 2.6WNW Palm Harbor 2.7SE
3.01 12.65
(FL-CY-42) (30.01N 81.72W) (FL-PN-133) (28.06N 82.73W)
Fruit Cove 5.9E Clearwater 3.1ENE
3.57 12.82
(FL-DV-98) (30.11N 81.52W) (FL-PN-136) (27.92N 82.72W)
Bunnell 1.0ENE Hudson 1.1ESE
10.25 7.93
(FL-FL-19) (29.47N 81.24W) (FL-PS-1) (28.35N 82.68W)
Flagler Beach 1.3SE Port Richey 2.0NNE
8.51 8.58
(FL-FL-33) (29.46N 81.12W) (FL-PS-4) (28.30N 82.71W)
Palm Coast 8.3S Lutz 3.4NE
10.17 12.02
(FL-FL-43) (29.45N 81.22W) (FL-PS-6) (28.17N 82.42W)
Valrico 2.2SE Zephyrhills North 2.3N
11.11 11.93
(FL-HB-4) (27.91N 82.23W) (FL-PS-18) (28.28N 82.16W)
Tampa 5.1S Trinity 3.0ENE
16.51 11.30
(FL-HB-10) (27.89N 82.49W) (FL-PS-65) (28.19N 82.62W)
Sun City Center 1.0NE Wesley Chapel 1.7ESE
9.08 13.90
(FL-HB-17) (27.73N 82.34W) (FL-PS-73) (28.18N 82.34W)
Bloomingdale 7.6 ESE Dade City 5.1W
7.97 12.29
(FL-HB-33) (27.83N 82.15W) (FL-PS-81) (28.35N 82.28W)
Greater Northdale 0.4ENE Zephyrhills 2.0SSE
11.36 11.15
(FL-HB-48) (28.11N 82.51W) (FL-PS-84) (28.21N 82.16W)
Riverview 4.8SSW Land O’ Lakes 3.0WNW
9.88 10.16
(FL-HB-98) (27.80N 82.34W) (FL-PS-88) (28.23N 82.50W)
Lutz 0.6WSW New Port Richey 4.7S
10.78 9.00
(FL-HB-116) (28.13N 82.47W) (FL-PS-89) (28.18N 82.71W)
Thonotosassa 3.6NE Satsuma 4.0NE
13.35 8.58
(FL-HB-123) (28.09N 82.27W) (FL-PT-7) (29.59N 81.61W)
Carrollwood Village 2.3W East Palatka 3.5NNW
12.27 6.86
(FL-HB-168) (28.07N 82.56W) (FL-PT-8) (29.70N 81.63W)
Apollo Beach 0.6W Florahome 4.1NNE
8.20 5.35
(FL-HB-173) (27.77N 82.42W) (FL-PT-12) (29.78N 81.85W)
Plant City 3.9SE San Mateo
12.54 8.04
(FL-HB-177) (27.97N 82.08W) (FL-PT-24) (29.59N 81.55W)
 Hurricane Milton 42

Total Total
Location Rainfall Location Rainfall
(in) (in)
Ruskin 3.2W Interlachen 3.6NNE
11.22 4.69
(FL-HB-178) (27.71N 82.48W) (FL-PT-26) (29.66N 81.87W)
Sefner 0.9W Hollister 0.5NW
11.61 5.79
(FL-HB-184) (28.00N 82.29W) (FL-PT-27) (29.63N 81.82W)
Lake Placid 3.6SW Palatka 3.6W
3.54 6.59
(FL-HL-46) (27.25N 81.40W) (FL-PT-29) (29.64N 81.72W)
Spring Hill 2.4NW St. Augustine South 2.1SSW
9.46 10.92
(FL-HN-14) (28.50N 82.60W) (FL-SJ-4) (29.81N 81.33W)
Weeki Wachee 7.1NNE St. Augustine 3.4SW
9.07 9.63
(FL-HN-24) (28.61N 82.54W) (FL-SJ-28) (29.85N 81.34W)
Brooksville 3.7SE Sawgrass
11.74 3.78
(FL-HN-39) (28.51N 82.36W) (FL-SJ-29) (30.19N 81.37W)
Sebastien 2.0SSW Palm Valley 5.9SSW
7.94 3.11
(FL-IR-19) (27.76N 80.50W) (FL-SJ-31) (30.12N 81.43W)
Vero Beach 5.4NNW Tradition 5.6W
11.60 3.98
(FL-IR-48) (27.71N 80.44W) (FL-SL-17) (27.27N 80.45W)
Fellsmere 4.3ESE Jensen Beach 4.1NNE
4.65 3.36
(FL-IR-63) (27.74N 80.53W) (FL-SL-54) (27.94N 80.21W)
Fort Myers 1.7WNW Port St. Lucie 4.7N
4.52 5.68
(FL-LE-72) (26.64N 81.88W) (FL-SL-58) (27.35N 80.36W)
North Fort Myers 2.8ESE Fort Pierce 5.8SSE
4.96 4.55
(FL-LE-74) (26.68N 81.85W) (FL-SL-59) (27.36N 80.30W)
Cypress Lake 1.2SE Altamont Springs 1.4SE
3.75 5.26
(FL-LE-79) (26.53N 81.88W) (FL-SM-27) (28.65N 81.38W)
Cape Coral 2.2WNW Casselberry 2.3ESE
4.14 10.40
(FL-LE-80) (26.65N 82.03W) (FL-SM-35) (28.65N 81.29W)
Oakland 3.4WSW Chuluota 0.6WSW
11.26 9.47
(FL-LK-27) (28.54N 81.68W) (FL-SM-37) (28.64N 81.13W)
Fruitland Park 0.8NNW Winter Springs 1.8SSE
7.11 10.92
(FL-LK-28) (28.87N 81.92W) (FL-SM-38) (28.69N 81.26W)
Lady Lake 5.5S Longwood 2.8NW
8.26 10.07
(FL-LK-31) (28.85N 81.94W) (FL-SM-39) (28.73N 81.38W)
Leesburg 5.5S Maitland 1.4NE
8.89 6.28
(FL-LK-41) (28.73N 81.89W) (FL-SM-44) (28.64N 81.35W)
Paisley 2.4E Oviedo 3.2NNE
9.78 13.56
(FL-LK-44) (28.98N 81.50W) (FL-SM-55) (28.70N 81.16W)
Tavares 0.4SSE Sanford 2.2SW
8.55 11.04
(FL-LK-48) (28.80N 81.73W) (FL-SM-60) (28.76N 81.30W)
Groveland 5.1NE Englewood 2.0NNW
11.26 4.25
(FL-LK-51) (28.61N 81.79W) (FL-SS-22) (26.99N 82.37W)
Clermont 6.1NNE North Port 3.6ESE
10.83 4.83
(FL-LK-57) (28.62N 81.70W) (FL-SS-56) (27.04N 82.14W)
Inglis 0.6N Osprey 1.1ESE
3.88 5.11
(FL-LV-15) (29.04N 82.66W) (FL-SS-88) (27.19N 82.47W)
Dunnellon 7.4W Sarasota 3.8SSE
4.55 7.45
(FL-LV-18) (29.04N 82.57W) (FL-SS-98) (27.29N 82.52W)
Bradenton 3.5WNW Venice 4.2ESE
13.05 4.17
(FL-MA-20) (27.51N 82.63W) (FL-SS-102) (27.07N 82.37W)
Lakewood Ranch 3.5E Lady Lake 4.3SSW
6.03 11.71
(FL-MA-29) (27.41N 82.37W) (FL-ST-9) (28.87N 81.95W)
The Meadows 6.2NE The Villages 2.8ESE
6.24 8.78
(FL-MA-32) (27.43N 82.40W) (FL-ST-26) (28.90N 81.95W)
Parrish 5.6SE Oxford 0.8SW
5.01 9.36
(FL-MA-40) (27.52N 82.37W) (FL-ST-35) (28.92N 82.05W)
 Hurricane Milton 43

Total Total
Location Rainfall Location Rainfall
(in) (in)
Desoto Lakes 4.2NNE Wildwood 2.2ENE
3.88 3.69
(FL-MA-43) (27.43N 82.46W) (FL-ST-38) (28.88N 82.00W)
Micanopy 3.6SSW New Smyrna Beach 1.5E
4.06 12.22
(FL-MR-13) (29.46N 82.30W) (FL-VL-1) (29.03N 80.89W)
Belleview 4.8E Edgewater 2.4N
8.59 9.42
(FL-MR-18) (29.06N 81.98W) (FL-VL-6) (29.00N 80.91W)
The Villages 2.7NNW Oak Hill 2.8 WSW
7.25 9.55
(FL-MR-20) (28.97N 82.00W) (FL-VL-38) (28.86N 80.87W)
Ocala 14.3S De Bary 1.7NE
9.68 14.98
(FL-MR-36) (28.98N 82.17W) (FL-VL-51) (28.90N 81.29W)
Jensen Beach Port Orange 0.2NNW
6.08 15.79
(FL-MT-15) (27.25N 80.26W) (FL-VL-62) (29.11N 81.01W)
Stuart 5.9SSE Ormond-by-the-Sea 0.8SSE
3.08 11.30
(FL-MT-18) (27.19N 80.23W) (FL-VL-81) (29.33N 81.06W)
Indiantown 0.5SW De Land 3.9SSE
6.12 12.28
(FL-MT-41) (27.03N 80.48W) (FL-VL-83) (28.98N 81.28W)
Port Salerno DeLeon Springs 1.6ESE
4.35 12.38
(FL-MT-46) (27.12N 80.21W) (FL-VL-86) (29.11N 81.33W)
Union Park 3.8ENE Lake Helen 0.9S
7.87 15.95
(FL-OR-15) (28.58N 81.18W) (FL-VL-90) (28.97N 81.23W)
Orlando 4.8NNW Ormond Beach 2.0ENE
10.03 17.20
(FL-OR-26) (28.57N 81.40W) (FL-VL-99) (29.31N 81.06W)
Ocoee 1.4N Orange City 1.4ENE
10.11 12.26
(FL-OR-34) (28.59N 81.53W) (FL-VL103) (28.95N 81.27W)
St. Cloud 3.1E Pierson 1.0ENE
3.65 11.43
(FL-OR-37) (28.25N 81.24W) (FL-VL105) (29.24N 81.45W)
Windermere 1.2NW Deltona 2.6SSW
4.75 14.08
(FL-OR-40) (28.51N 81.55W) (FL-VL-114) (28.87N 81.22W)
 Hurricane Milton 44

Table 5. Number of hours in advance of formation associated with the first NHC Tropical
Weather Outlook forecast in the indicated likelihood category. Note that the timings
for the “Low” category do not include forecasts of a 0% chance of genesis.
Parentheses indicate when that category was reintroduced a second time.

Hours Before Genesis

48-Hour Outlook 168-Hour Outlook

Low (<40%) 114 (18) 210

Medium (40%-60%) 6 174 (36)

High (>60%) 0 12
 Hurricane Milton 45

Table 6a. NHC official (OFCL) and climatology-persistence skill baseline (OCD5) track
forecast errors (n mi) for Hurricane Milton, 5–10 October 2024. Mean errors for the
previous 5-yr period are shown for comparison. Official errors that are smaller than
the 5-yr means are shown in boldface type.

Forecast Period (h)

12 24 36 48 60 72 96 120

OFCL 25.8 43.0 52.5 69.8 78.5 87.9 77.6 82.7

OCD5 51.5 113.1 202.2 289.8 396.4 464.2 524.9 618.6

Forecasts 19 17 15 13 11 9 5 1

OFCL (2019-23) 23.9 36.5 49.3 63.4 79.2 93.4 132.9 190.4

OCD5 (2019-23) 45.7 97.1 153.0 205.4 254.9 297.8 372.7 439.1
 Hurricane Milton 46

Table 6b. Homogeneous comparison of selected track forecast guidance models (in n mi)
for Hurricane Milton, 5–10 October 2024. Errors smaller than the NHC official
forecast are shown in boldface type. The number of official forecasts shown here
will generally be smaller than that shown in Table 6a due to the homogeneity
requirement.

Forecast Period (h)

Model ID
12 24 36 48 60 72 96 120
OFCL 25.3 41.4 50.7 68.1 77.9 81.3 82.5 82.7
OCD5 50.9 116.6 199.3 287.2 400.8 471.1 542.6 618.6
GFSI 22.5 35.8 50.2 68.2 98.2 128.0 125.0 79.6
HWFI 27.8 43.6 61.6 79.7 91.2 105.1 132.0 84.7
HMNI 21.9 36.1 57.6 75.1 83.0 79.5 128.6 102.4
HFAI 28.4 46.5 57.2 64.4 76.3 91.0 143.0 196.7
HFBI 25.1 39.1 48.8 65.7 89.5 109.0 135.6 135.3
UEMI 29.0 57.5 82.7 90.3 75.7 83.4 92.3 67.4
EMXI 31.3 47.5 64.6 74.5 80.0 69.9 89.6 204.1
CMCI 29.0 42.7 61.9 83.6 118.3 176.9 249.3 436.3
CTCI 20.3 33.4 38.5 44.1 38.5 51.8 84.7 79.2
TVCA 23.1 37.4 50.2 59.8 65.6 62.3 65.9 59.3
TVCX 23.1 37.2 49.3 61.1 63.7 60.5 65.2 82.7
GFEX 26.1 38.8 52.9 66.7 80.3 94.8 99.8 126.8
TVDG 23.3 37.7 51.6 62.8 65.4 64.1 70.4 78.9
HCCA 24.0 39.1 51.6 61.2 69.5 81.1 99.7 144.5
AEMI 27.6 42.2 50.7 63.6 76.5 82.6 63.9 177.7
TABS 61.3 122.2 175.5 203.2 216.5 240.8 507.8 192.4
TABM 32.4 51.7 70.4 80.2 71.0 83.0 175.0 115.9
TABD 28.5 36.2 38.9 69.3 100.9 153.0 273.4 348.6
Forecasts 17 15 14 12 10 8 4 1
 Hurricane Milton 47

Table 7a. NHC official (OFCL) and climatology-persistence skill baseline (OCD5) intensity
forecast errors (kt) for Hurricane Milton, 5–10 October 2024. Mean errors for the
previous 5-yr period are shown for comparison. Official errors that are smaller than
the 5-yr means are shown in boldface type.

Forecast Period (h)

12 24 36 48 60 72 96 120

OFCL 9.7 17.9 19.7 27.7 26.4 22.8 17.0 0.0

OCD5 15.7 26.2 38.5 52.5 51.0 51.6 47.4 16.0

Forecasts 19 17 15 13 11 9 5 1

OFCL (2019-23) 5.0 7.3 8.5 9.7 10.4 10.9 12.9 15.5

OCD5 (2019-23) 6.6 10.2 13.1 15.6 17.2 18.6 21.8 22.6
 Hurricane Milton 48

Table 7b. Homogeneous comparison of selected intensity forecast guidance models (in kt)
for Hurricane Milton, 5–10 October 2024. Errors smaller than the NHC official
forecast are shown in boldface type.

Forecast Period (h)

Model ID
12 24 36 48 60 72 96 120
OFCL 9.7 17.9 19.7 27.7 26.4 22.8 17.0 0.0
OCD5 15.7 26.2 38.5 52.5 51.0 51.6 47.4 16.0
HWFI 12.4 17.3 21.1 23.5 26.7 18.8 20.2 5.0
HMNI 14.1 16.7 19.1 22.1 22.4 18.8 17.2 1.0
HFAI 13.2 17.1 18.3 17.5 13.2 12.1 24.8 8.0
HFBI 11.5 14.1 14.3 22.0 17.1 15.7 24.4 12.0
DSHP 14.4 19.8 27.9 32.1 32.3 36.6 39.4 10.0
LGEM 14.3 21.8 27.9 32.5 32.2 33.9 36.4 14.0
ICON 13.2 18.5 23.7 27.2 27.9 26.2 19.8 4.0
IVCN 12.6 16.6 18.6 24.5 24.4 23.7 21.6 1.0
IVDR 12.8 16.8 17.9 24.4 24.6 23.0 21.0 1.0
CTCI 15.3 22.1 27.2 39.9 42.7 45.6 27.2 7.0
GFSI 18.0 25.7 32.0 42.6 42.6 37.0 27.4 5.0
EMXI 21.9 34.9 46.0 55.3 58.0 54.6 46.4 12.0
HCCA 11.8 15.4 17.4 23.8 24.6 25.8 23.2 10.0
Forecasts 19 17 15 13 11 9 5 1
 Hurricane Milton 49

Table 8a. Tropical cyclone wind watch and warning summary for Hurricane Milton, 5–10
October 2024.

Date/Time
Action Location
(UTC)

Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico

06 / 0300 Tropical Storm Watch issued
from Celestun to Cancun
Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
06 / 1500 Tropical Storm Warning issued
from Celestun to Cabo Catoche
Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
06 / 2100 Hurricane Watch issued
from Celestun to Cancun
Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
06 / 2100 Tropical Storm Warning issued
from Cabo Catoche to Cancun
Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
07 / 0900 Hurricane Warning issued
from Celestun to Rio Lagartos
The Dry Tortugas and the Gulf coast of Florida
07 / 0900 Hurricane Watch issued from Chokoloskee northward to the mouth of
the Suwanee River, including Tampa Bay
Florida Gulf Coast west of the Suwannee
07 / 0900 Tropical Storm Watch issued
River to Indian Pass
Florida Gulf Coast south of Chokoloskee to
07 / 0900 Tropical Storm Watch issued
Flamingo
07 / 0900 Tropical Storm Watch issued Florida Keys including Florida Bay
Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
07 / 1200 Hurricane Watch issued
south of Celestun to Campeche
Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
07 / 1200 Tropical Storm Warning issued
south of Celestun to Campeche
07 / 1500 Hurricane Watch issued Lake Okeechobee
Florida Gulf Coast from Bonita Beach
07 / 2100 Hurricane Warning issued northward to the mouth of the Suwannee
River, including Tampa Bay
East coast of the Florida Peninsula from the
07 / 2100 Hurricane Watch issued St. Lucie/Indian River County Line northward
to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River
Florida Gulf Coast south of Bonita Beach to
07 / 2100 Tropical Storm Warning issued
Flamingo, including Lake Okeechobee
Florida Gulf Coast north of the mouth of the
07 / 2100 Tropical Storm Warning issued Suwannee River northward and westward to
Indian Pass
Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas and
07 / 2100 Tropical Storm Warning issued
Florida Bay
East coast of the Florida Peninsula south of
07 / 2100 Tropical Storm Watch issued the St. Lucie/Indian River County Line
southward to Flamingo
 Hurricane Milton 50

Date/Time
Action Location
(UTC)

Coast of Georgia and South Carolina from

07 / 2100 Tropical Storm Watch issued north of the mouth of the St. Mary’s River to
South Santee River, South Carolina
East coast of the Florida Peninsula from the
08 / 1200 Hurricane Warning issued Indian River/St. Lucie County Line northward
to Ponte Vedra Beach
Southeast coast of the Florida Peninsula
08 / 1200 Tropical Storm Warning issued south of the Indian River/St. Lucie County Line
to Flamingo
Northeast coast of the Florida Peninsula north
08 / 1200 Tropical Storm Warning issued of Ponte Vedra Beach to the mouth of the St.
Mary's River
All watches and warnings Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
08 / 1200 discontinued south of Celestun
Extreme northwestern Bahamas, including
08 / 1500 Tropical Storm Watch issued
Grand Bahama Island, the Abacos, and Bimini
East coast of the Florida Peninsula from the
08 / 2100 Hurricane Warning issued Indian River/St. Lucie County Line southward
to the St. Lucie/Martin County Line
East coast of the Florida Peninsula from the
08 / 2100 Hurricane Watch issued St. Lucie/Martin County Line to the Palm
Beach/Martin County Line
Georgia coast from the mouth of the St.
08 / 2100 Tropical Storm Warning issued
Mary's River to the Altamaha Sound
Extreme northwestern Bahamas, including
08 / 2100 Tropical Storm Warning issued
Grand Bahama Island, the Abacos, and Bimini
Hurricane Warning Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
08 / 2100 discontinued west of Dzilam
Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
08 / 2100 Hurricane Watch discontinued
from Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche
Hurricane Warning changed to Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
08 / 2100 Tropical Storm Warning from Dzilam to Rio Lagartos
Tropical Storm Warning Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
09 / 0300 discontinued from Dzilam to Cancun
Georgia coast from the Altamaha Sound to the
09 / 0900 Tropical Storm Warning issued
Savannah River
U. S. east coast north of the Savannah River,
09 / 2100 Tropical Storm Warning issued
Georgia, to Edisto Beach, South Carolina
Dry Tortugas and the west coast of the Florida
09 / 2100 Hurricane Watch discontinued Peninsula south of Bonita beach to
Chokoloskee
East coast of the Florida peninsula north of
09 / 2100 Hurricane Watch discontinued Ponte Vedra Beach to the mouth of the St.
Mary’s River
Tropical Storm Watch U. S. east coast north of Edisto Beach, South
09 / 2100 discontinued Carolina
 Hurricane Milton 51

Date/Time
Action Location
(UTC)

All watches and warnings

10 / 0900 Florida Gulf coast
discontinued
Florida Keys and the southeast coast of the
Tropical Storm Warning
10 / 0900 Florida Peninsula south of the Palm
discontinued
Beach/Broward County Line
Lake Okeechobee and the east coast of the
10 / 0900 Hurricane Watch discontinued
Florida peninsula in Martin County.
East coast of the Florida peninsula south of
Hurricane Warning changed to
10 / 1200 Sebastien Inlet and north of the
Tropical Storm Warning
Flagler/Volusia County Line
Tropical Storm Warning Southeast coast of the Florida Peninsula
10 / 1200 discontinued south of the Palm Beach/Martin County Line
East coast of the Florida peninsula from
Hurricane Warning changed to
10 / 1500 Sebastien Inlet to the Flagler/Volusia County
Tropical Storm Warning
Line
Tropical Storm Warning Lake Okeechobee and the east coast of the
10 / 1500 discontinued Florida Peninsula south of Sebastien Inlet
Tropical Storm Warning
10 / 1500 Bimini
discontinued
Tropical Storm Warning East coast of the Florida Peninsula south of
10 / 1800 discontinued the Flagler/Volusia County line
Tropical Storm Warning
10 / 1800 Extreme northwestern Bahamas
discontinued
All watches and warnings
10 / 2100 U. S. coast
discontinued
 Hurricane Milton 52

Table 8b. Storm surge watch and warning summary for Hurricane Milton, 5–10 October
2024.

Date/Time
Action Location
(UTC)

Florida Gulf Coast from Flamingo northward to

07 / 0900 Storm Surge Watch issued the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor
and Tampa Bay.
Florida Gulf Coast from Flamingo northward to
07 / 2100 Storm Surge Warning issued the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor
and Tampa Bay.
U.S. east coast from Sebastian Inlet, Florida, to
07 / 2100 Storm Surge Watch issued Edisto Beach, South Carolina, including the St.
Johns River
East coast of the Florida Peninsula from the
Volusia/Brevard County Line northward to the
08 / 1200 Storm Surge Warning issued
mouth of the St. Mary's River, including the St.
Johns River
East coast of the Florida Peninsula from the
08 / 1500 Storm Surge Warning issued Volusia/Brevard County Line southward to Port
Canaveral
East coast of the Florida Peninsula from Port
08 / 2100 Storm Surge Warning issued
Canaveral southward to Sebastien Inlet
Georgia coast from the mouth of the St. Mary's
08 / 2100 Storm Surge Warning issued
River to the Altamaha Sound
Storm Surge Warning
09 / 0900 Florida Gulf coast west of Yankeetown
discontinued
Storm Surge Watch U. S. east coast north of Altamaha Sound,
09 / 1800
discontinued Georgia, to Edisto Beach, South Carolina
Storm Surge Warning
10 / 0300 Florida Gulf coast north of the Anclote River
discontinued
Storm Surge Warning Florida Gulf coast from the Anclote River to the
10 / 0900
discontinued middle of Longboat Key, including Tampa Bay
Storm Surge Warning Florida Gulf coast from Bonita Beach to
10 / 0900
discontinued Flamingo
Storm Surge Warning
10 / 1200 Florida Gulf coast
discontinued
Storm Surge Warning East coast of the Florida Peninsula south of the
10 / 1800
discontinued Flagler/Volusia County line
All watches and warnings
10 / 2100 U. S. coast
discontinued
 Hurricane Milton 53

FIGURES

Figure 1. Best track positions for Hurricane Milton, 5–10 October 2024.
 Hurricane Milton 54

Figure 2. Selected wind observations and best track maximum sustained surface wind speed curve for Hurricane Milton, 5–10 October
2024. Aircraft observations have been adjusted for elevation using 90%, 80%, and 75% adjustment factors for observations
from 700 mb, 850 mb, and 925 mb, respectively. Dropwindsonde observations include actual 10 m winds (sfc), as well as
surface estimates derived from the mean wind over the lowest 150 m of the wind sounding (LLM). Advanced Dvorak Technique
estimates represent the Current Intensity at the nominal observation time. SATCON intensity estimates are from the
Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies. Dashed vertical lines correspond to 0000 UTC, and solid vertical lines
correspond to landfalls.
 Hurricane Milton 55

Figure 3. Selected pressure observations and best track minimum central pressure curve for Hurricane Milton, 5–10 October 2024.
Advanced Dvorak Technique estimates represent the Current Intensity at the nominal observation time. SATCON intensity
estimates are from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies. KZC P-W refers to pressure estimates derived
using the Knaff-Zehr-Courtney pressure-wind relationship. Dashed vertical lines correspond to 0000 UTC, and solid vertical
lines correspond to landfalls.
 Hurricane Milton 56

Figure 4. Synthetic aperture radar image showing estimated surface winds in Milton just before landfall in Florida. Data is from the
Canadian RADARSAT (RCM-1) at 2343 UTC 9 October 2024 with image courtesy of NESDIS STAR and the Canadian Space
Agency.
 Hurricane Milton 57

Figure 5. Air Force Reserve and NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft flight tracks (red) from reconnaissance missions into Milton. The black
markers denote center fixes, and the blue triangles indicate dropsonde locations. The color coding of the flight tracks is based
on the observed flight-level wind speed with the color legend to the right of the map representing the color associated with the
various wind speeds in knots. Dropsondes with no flight tracks are from the NOAA G-IV aircraft.
 Hurricane Milton 58

Figure 6. Analyzed storm surge inundation (feet above ground level) along the coast of Florida from Hurricane Milton. Milton’s track is
overlaid (black line).
 Hurricane Milton 59

Figure 7. Maximum water levels (ft above MHHW) during Hurricane Milton measured by the NOS tide gauge network and deployed
USGS water level sensors, overlaid with TBW radar reflectivity at 0104 UTC 10 October.
 Hurricane Milton 60

Figure 8. Storm surge damage due to Hurricane Milton on Manasota Key, Florida. Images taken by NWS survey crews on Manasota
Key.
 Hurricane Milton 61

Figure 9. Before (upper left), during, (upper right), and after (bottom) images of storm surge damage due to Hurricane Milton at Punta
Gorda, Florida. Images courtesy of Mark Sudduth and Matt Clemons of HurricaneTrack.
 Hurricane Milton 62

Figure 10. Rainfall totals for the United States during the passage of Hurricane Milton. Image courtesy of Dave Roth at the Weather
Prediction Center.
 Hurricane Milton 63

Figure 11. Rainfall totals for Mexico from 5–9 October 2024 including the passage of Hurricane Milton. Not all of the rain depicted is
directly related to Milton. Image courtesy of the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional of Mexico. The track and intensity are from
NHC operational values.
 Hurricane Milton 64

Figure 12. Locations of tornadoes associated with Hurricane Milton on 9–10 October 2024. Data courtesy of the NOAA Storm Prediction
Center.
 Hurricane Milton 65

Figure 13. (Left) Tornado in western Broward County, Florida, near the I-75/US-27 interchange around 1410 UTC 9 October 2024. Image
courtesy of Matt Onderlinde, NHC. (Right) Tornadic waterspout over Lake Okeechobee, Florida, around 1905 UTC 9 October
2024. Image courtesy of John Beven, NHC.
 Hurricane Milton 66

Figure 14. Roof damage to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL caused by Hurricane Milton. Image courtesy of USA Today, Bryan R.
Smith, and Getty Images.
 Hurricane Milton 67

Figure 15. Composites of 7-day tropical cyclone genesis areas depicted in NHC’s Tropical Weather Outlooks prior to the formation of
Milton for (a) all probabilistic genesis categories, (b) the low (<40%) category, (c) medium (40–60%) category, and (d) high
(>60%) category. The location of genesis is indicated by the black star.
 Hurricane Milton 68

Figure 16. Skill diagram for selected track forecast models (homogenous sample) in percent relative to OCD5 for Hurricane Milton, 5–10
October 2024. The number of forecasts at each time period is shown in parentheses below the horizontal axis.
 Hurricane Milton 69

Figure 17. Selected official track forecasts (blue dashed lines, with 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 96, and 120 h positions indicated) for Hurricane
Milton, 5–10 October 2024. The best track is given by the black line with red symbol showing positions typically at 6-h intervals.
 Hurricane Milton 70

Figure 18. Skill diagram for selected intensity forecast models (homogenous sample) in percent relative to OCD5 for Hurricane Milton,
5–10 October 2024. The number of forecasts at each time period is shown in parentheses below the horizontal axis.
 Hurricane Milton 71

Figure 19. Selected intensity track forecasts (blue lines) for Hurricane Milton, 5–10 October 2024. The best track is given by the black line
with intensities typically at 6-h intervals.
 Hurricane Milton 72

Figure 20. The Storm Surge Warning (magenta) from 0900 UTC 9 October (Adv. 17) and maximum water levels measured from NOS tide
gauges and deployed USGS water level sensors. Water levels greater than 3 ft above MHHW are designated as a white “o”
and water levels less than 3 ft above MHHW as a black “x”.