*This story will be continuously updated for Hurricane Milton coverage
Update 8 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024
Weather officials issued a hurricane warning Tuesday morning for Indian River County ahead of Hurricane Milton, churning in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and barreling east toward Florida. A hurricane warning means hurricane-force winds are expected within 36 hours.
“Urgently complete efforts to protect life and property,” emergency service officials said in an alert. “Have food, water, cash, fuel and medications.”
Hurricane Milton was expected to slam Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday night and continue traveling toward the state’s eastern seaboard. The storm will bring damaging winds between 74 and 110 mph, along with gusts up to 60 mph, to Indian River County, weather officials said.
Meteorologists said the hurricane will bring up to 2 feet of storm surge and between 2-to-4 inches of rainfall, causing flooding in some areas. Milton will also bring moderate beach erosion, strong rip currents and a chance of tornadoes.
A flood watch remains in effect until Thursday for Indian River County, meteorologists said. A high surf advisory will last from Wednesday night through Thursday.
Milton, with 145-mph maximum sustained winds, was traveling east northeast at 12 mph, according to a Tuesday morning update from the National Hurricane Center. The storm was downgraded to a Category 4 hurricane by 2 a.m. Tuesday, one day after reaching a peak of Category 5.
Earlier story:
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Weather officials issued a Hurricane watch for the county Monday afternoon as Milton remained a major Category 5 hurricane churning in the Gulf of Mexico. A hurricane watch means hurricane-force winds are possible in the area within the next 48 hours.
The hurricane watch will remain in effect until further notice.
Meteorologists said Hurricane Milton will weaken to a Category 3 storm before it slams Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday evening. The hurricane will bring 25-to-35 mph winds, with gusts up to 55 mph to Indian River County, officials said.
The storm could possibly produce up to 2 feet of storm surge, snap trees, damage roofing and siding materials, destroy mobile homes, and cause up to 6 inches of rainfall. A flood watch for Indian River County remains in effect until Wednesday evening.
Tornadoes could also possibly form, emergency service officials said. Residents should make preparations – which include having food and water for seven days in case of power outages – before the hurricane-force winds arrive.
