Hurricane Milton Map: Florida Rivers Forecast to Break Water Level Records
October 10, 2024
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Hurricane Milton has hit Florida’s west coast as a Category 3 storm, and several rivers in the storm’s path are already reaching record-high levels.
The National Water Prediction Service (NWPS) has predicted several rivers in and around the Tampa Bay area will reach major flooding status as Hurricane Milton barrels through the Sunshine State.
The storm made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast near Siesta Key in Sarasota County just after 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, becoming the second major hurricane to strike the region in less than two weeks, following Hurricane Helene. Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders across 15 Florida counties with a total population of around 7.2 million people.
Heavy rain and tornadoes had already lashed parts of southern Florida on Wednesday morning. Six to 12 inches of rain were recorded in some areas according to the National Weather Service (NWS), bringing the risk of catastrophic flooding.
A vehicle is stranded on a flooded street in Brandon, Florida, after Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 9, 2024. Milton was classed as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 hurricane, packing life-threatening storm surge, extreme… A vehicle is stranded on a flooded street in Brandon, Florida, after Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 9, 2024. Milton was classed as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 hurricane, packing life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds and flash flooding, the National Hurricane Center said.
MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP/GETTY
Three rivers are currently predicted to reach major flooding status and potentially break records. These are:
Hillsborough River near Zephyrhills, record 15.3ft in 1960, forecast to reach 16.3ft
Cypress Creek at Worthington Gardens, record 13.8ft in 2004, forecast to reach 15ft
Hillsborough River at Morris Bridge, record 34.7ft in 2017, forecast to reach 35.2ft
The Hillsborough River near Zephyr State Park is currently on the brink of reaching major flooding status having risen to 13.73ft as of early Thursday morning. It is less than 2ft away from breaching its record 15.3ft, and is expected to reach a high of 16.3ft late on Thursday evening.
Further along the Hillsborough River near the Pasco County line at Morris Bridge, the water is not currently reaching major flooding status, but it is rising. The NWPS is currently reporting levels of 30.42ft, but the water is forecast to reach in excess of 35ft by the evening of Saturday, October 12.
Cypress Creek at Worthington Gardens in Pasco County was last recorded at 10.93ft at 3 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Water levels are expected to jump by around 3ft by around 8 a.m. before rising to as high as 15 ft on Saturday, breaking its 2004 record of 13.8 ft.
As of 4 a.m., there are currently 179 active weather alerts in place across Florida. Many of these are immediate flash flooding alerts, as well as hurricane and storm surge warnings.
NOAA excessive rainfall outlook for days 1 to 3 of Hurricane Milton. The river’s forecast to break water level records are contained in the pink shaded area. NOAA excessive rainfall outlook for days 1 to 3 of Hurricane Milton. The river’s forecast to break water level records are contained in the pink shaded area. NOAA
“Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring. Numerous roads remain closed due to flooding. Streams continue to rise due to excess runoff from earlier rainfall,” the NWS said in warning issued for several counties in and around the Tampa Bay Area.
The NWS warns that anyone who encounters a flash flood should “turn around” and that “most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”
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