10/06/2024
Due to Hurricane 🌀 Milton,
we will be closed Until Friday.
We may be without power and internet for an unknown amount of time. Please be patient with us for responses and orders while we navigate through this storm and afterwards.
Thank you for understanding!
Please stay safe everyone! 🙏🏼❤️
UPDATE: New 5 PM Sunday Advisory is in now from the NHC. Peak intensity forecast has increased to Category 4, 145 mph. Landfall remains possible from Southwest Florida to the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday. Little movement in the overall cone this advisory. Here are my thoughts as of Sunday evening:
1. Hurricane Hunters are finding Milton is continuing to rapidly intensify in the Gulf. Max wind speed has increased, pressures are dropping. Conditions in the short-term, including lower shear and warm water, will allow for even more strengthening. NHC has a peak intensity forecast of Category 4, 145 mph, but please note a few hurricane models do have the peak at Category 5. Can't rule it out. Those same models also indicate there could be some weakening towards landfall because of greater shear and some dry air, but by that time it is already an established powerful and dangerous storm. The wind field would expand as the storm grows in size...impacting more people.
2. The new afternoon models are in with some classic windshield wiper action. Slight shift north. This will continue to happen, both north or south in the hours and days ahead. Please don't stress yourself out over every single run. Look for consistency going forward.
3. Until these models iron out the details, we still can't talk specifics just yet for local Southwest Florida impacts (wind, surge, etc). We're almost there. Please be patient just a little bit longer. Landfall is Wednesday. Watches will be issued shortly, either later tonight at 11 PM or into Monday morning...then upgraded to warnings in time. I expect a lot more data and information Monday.
4. Monday is also the day you'll likely hear even more about potential evacuations. Some have already been given. The surge forecast has not been released yet from the NHC. When I have those numbers, I will immediately share them. Life-threatening storm surge will be possible with this storm for a portion of the Florida Gulf coast. If you're on the southern side of the storm you will be getting surge to a certain degree. *CLOSEST TO THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE EYEWALL WILL GET THE HIGHEST SURGE.* If you're north of the center, your wind will be coming in from a different direction and from the land...more likely to suck the water out at landfall, but often they get even heavier rain and potentially stronger wind. Some surge is still possible north after the storm exists, but not to the level compared to those south of the center.
5. This storm will not be as big as Helene, which had a tropical storm-force wind field over 450 miles long. Current projections for Milton's tropical storm-force wind field will be around 325 miles long or wide. Still a formidable storm. Remember that the maximum wind speed is only contained in a small part of the storm and not throughout the entire storm. For those who see those max winds, however, it will be very damaging.
6. The forward motion at landfall will be close to 14-15 mph. Not as slow as Hurricane Ian, but not as fast as Hurricane Helene.
If you are told to evacuate, please do so! Remember that you don't always have to travel across the state, just get inland and away from the Gulf or connecting rivers. TAKE THIS STORM SERIOUSLY SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. I will guide you through the entire storm 24/7 every step of the way, without the hype and with information you need. Make sure to tune into WINK News for the latest all week.
