(This story is from Tuesday, Oct. 8. See the update for Wednesday, Oct. 9.)
Ahead of a Hurricane Milton landfall in Florida, what's going on at the cruise ship ports and cargo ports here?
As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, Hurricane Milton was forecast to retain major hurricane status and expand in size while it approaches the West Coast of Florida. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Tuesday was the last fill day for Florida residents to get their familiar and homes ready and evacuate if told to do so by local officials.
Hurricane Milton, which became a hurricane Sunday, Oct. 6, and strengthened into a Category 5 a day later, was downgraded to a Category 4 storm on Tuesday.
On the forecast track, the center of Hurricane Milton will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approach the west-central coast of Florida through Wednesday, Oct. 9. The center was likely to make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida on Wednesday night, and move east-northeastward across Central Florida through Thursday.
How has Hurricane Milton affected Florida ports? Here's what we know.
Hurricane Milton: Do ports in Florida close during a tropical storm?
The U.S. Coast Guard has a four-step process for setting port conditions during a hurricane or tropical storm, in advance of closing the port:
- Port Condition Whiskey: Implemented 72 hours prior to expected tropical-storm-force winds of at least 39 mph.
- Port Condition X-Ray: Implemented 48 hours prior to expected tropical-storm-force winds of at least 39 mph.
- Port Condition Yankee: Implemented 24 hours prior to expected tropical-storm-force winds of at least 39 mph.
- Port Condition Zulu: Implemented 12 hours prior to expected tropical-storm-force winds of at least 39 mph. When a port is at Zulu, it is closed to all vessel traffic and to ship-to-shore cargo operations, except those specifically authorized by the Coast Guard's captain of the port.
After a port is closed and the storm passes, officials from the port, Coast Guard and other entities inspect the port's shipping channel for shoaling and debris to assure the port is safe to reopen for ships.
Hurricane Milton: Are cruise ship ports and cargo ports in Florida closed?
These were the ports at Condition Zulu, which means closed to all vessel traffic and to ship-to-shore cargo operations, except those specifically authorized by the Coast Guard's captain of the port, as of Wednesday, Oct. 8, according to the Florida Ports Council. Shipping channels have closed at these ports:
- JaxPort (Jacksonville), @jax_port
- Port Canaveral, @portcanaveral
- Port of Fernandina
- Port of Palm Beach
- Port of Key West
- Port St. Pete
- Port Tampa Bay, @porttampabay
- SeaPort Manatee
Hurricane Milton: Which ports in Florida are operating ahead of Florida landfall?
These were the ports at Condition Yankee, as of Wednesday morning, according to the Florida Ports Council:
- Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), @portevergladesfl
- PortMiami, @portmiami
What time is Hurricane Milton expected to make landfall?Will Hurricane Milton impact Florida?
Yes, Hurricane Milton will impact Florida. Parts of the state already were experiencing rain, thunderstorms and flash flooding days ahead of landfall. Many counties were listed in a state of emergency, with the potential for tropical tornadoes.
Expect life-threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds along the coast of the Panhandle and Florida's Gulf Coast and West Coast.
Don't focus on the center of the storm. Impacts from Hurricane Milton will be felt hundreds of miles away, especially on the north and east sides.
The graphic above from the National Hurricane Center shows coastal watches and warnings along with the forecast cone for the center of Hurricane Milton. The graphic will automatically update with each advisory from the hurricane center.
➤Weather alerts via text:Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location
Milton was forecast to become a large hurricane over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Earlier tropical weather advisories had forecast landfall for Wednesday evening or early Thursday, but the forecast is regularly changing on the timing.
A look back: Hurricane Milton strengthened into a hurricane Oct. 6, then upgraded to a Category 5 a day later, before being downgraded to a Category 4 storm Tuesday, Oct. 8. Landfall will be Wednesday or Thursday, Oct. 9 or 10, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Refundable airfare?For Florida flights impacted by Hurricane Milton, what do if flight is delayed, canceled
Weather radar: Will we get showers, thunderstorms, rain in Florida today?
Shown is the National Weather Service radar for the Southeast United States, which shows conditions in real-time. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache.
Where is Hurricane Milton? What is the track, path of Milton in Florida?
Shown is the seven-day graphical tropical weather outlook from theNational Hurricane Center in Miami. The above graphic will automatically update with each advisory from the hurricane center.
Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text
Dave Berman is business editor atFLORIDA TODAY.Contact Berman atdberman@floridatoday.com, on X at@bydavebermanand on Facebook atfacebook.com/dave.berman.54
