The latest storm of the active 2024 hurricane season has formed in the western Gulf of Mexico and is expected to bring major impacts to Florida.
While hurricanes Kirk and Leslie churn in the open Atlantic as no threat to land, Milton has formed and will move generally east or northeast over the coming days with landfall expected as a major hurricane on Wednesday afternoon.
Fortunately for us here in North Georgia, impacts from Milton will be well to our south but major impacts are expected across the Florida Peninsula. Current forecasts show Milton making landfall somewhere near or just north of Tampa Bay as a powerful Category 3 storm.
Heavy rain and significant storm surge are possible. A track just to the north of Tampa Bay could result in catastrophic storm surge into the bay, especially if Milton comes ashore stronger than Category 3 which is certainly possible.
Heavy rainfall is also likely with a widespread 6-12″ across the central peninsula including Tampa and Orlando.
A cold front will keep the storm steering east and away from North Georgia and the Western Carolinas where another storm would be absolutely devastating.
Now Habersham will be monitoring this storm and keep you up to date on the latest.
