The Florida Keys were upgraded to a tropical storm warning on Monday afternoon in anticipation of Hurricane Milton.
Hurricane Milton was a Category 4 on Tuesday with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph. It’s roughly 560 miles southwest of Tampa and moving east at 12 mph. It’s expected to make landfall Wednesday night, per the National Weather Service.
Hurricane Milton’s approach to southwest Florida will bring the potential for tropical storm-force winds of 40 to 50 mph to the Keys as early as Tuesday evening and into Wednesday. Monroe County School District Superintendent Theresa Axford said Tuesday morning that schools will close Wednesday in anticipation of tropical storm-force winds.
A coastal flood warning is in effect for the Florida Keys. Forecasters say Hurricane Milton is expected to bring 1-3 feet of storm surge flooding above ground level in low-lying areas on the gulf and bayside early Wednesday morning through Thursday. Some bayside areas in the Upper Keys could experience saltwater flooding through Thursday evening. Atlantic facing shorelines will be susceptible to waves and overwash, leading to saltwater flooding in the adjacent neighborhoods.
An additional 2 to 4 inches of rain are likely through Wednesday night, adding to the amounts already received throughout the Keys from another system. The Keys have already seen 2 to 6 inches in the last 72 hours.
Closures
- All Florida Department of Health offices will close Wednesday, Oct. 9.
- All state parks in the Keys are closed today.
- Monroe County Schools will close Wednesday, Oct. 9.
- The College of the Florida Keys are closed Wednesday, Oct. 9.
- Monroe County government offices will be closed on Wednesday., Oct. 9.
- FKEC’s offices in Tavernier and Marathon will be closed Wednesday, October 9.
- Snake Creek Bridge in Islamorada is locked down.
- No solid waste collection service in the Lower Keys and Key West (7 Mile Bridge South). Collection service in Middle and Upper Keys have no changes at this time.
- Key West Transit and the Lower Keys Shuttle will be suspending service Wednesday and Thursday. Conch Connect will be suspending service Wednesday and will continue to monitor the conditions for Thursday.
