Life-threatening storm surges are due to hit Florida's Gulf Coast this week with the arrival of Hurricane Milton, which is strengthening over the southern Gulf of Mexico and set to make landfall as a powerful Category 3 storm on Wednesday.
The NHC issued a storm surge warning early Monday for Florida's Gulf Coast from Flamingo on the southern tip to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay.
A hurricane watch is in place along the same coastline, from Chokoloskee near Everglades City, to the Suwannee River, while a tropical storm watch is in place further west to Indian Pass.
"A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline," the NHC said.
ET, Milton was about 195 miles west-north-west of Progreso, Mexico, and about 750 miles west-south-west of Tampa, with maximum sustained wind speeds of near 100 mph with higher gusts.
Persons:
Hurricane Milton, Milton, Hurricane Helene
Organizations:
National Hurricane Center, NHC, Florida's, Watch
Locations:
Hurricane, Mexico, Florida, United States, Coast, Flamingo, Suwannee, Tampa, Chokoloskee, Everglades City, Progreso
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