Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 419 PM EDT Tue Oct 08 2024 Valid 00Z Wed Oct 09 2024 - 00Z Fri Oct 11 2024 ... Major Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall along the west coast of Florida late Wednesday evening... ...Milton will bring life-threatening impacts to much of Florida including a destructive storm surge, devastating hurricane-force winds, and considerable flash and urban flooding... ...Unseasonably hot temperatures expand over much of the western and central U.S., some record-tying/breaking highs possible... Hurricane Milton is a strong, major hurricane northeast of the Yucatan as of this afternoon according to the National Hurricane Center. Milton looks to make landfall somewhere along the west-central Florida coast late Wednesday evening or early Thursday, but impacts will extend across much of the state as it moves inland.This includes but is not limited to Tampa-St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Bradenton, Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Orlando, and Melbourne. In addition to possible sustained major hurricane force winds, a large area of destructive, potentially catastrophic storm surge will occur along the west coast of Florida on Wednesday or early Thursday, with the highest peak surge forecast to be between 10-15 feet in the Tampa Bay area south to Charlotte Harbor. Areas south and north from the Nature Coast to the Everglades may also expect possible storm surge impacts. Storm surge is a big deal; complete preparations by today and listen to local officials on orders. The threat of fresh water flooding from heavy rain has increased since Monday. Most of the region around Tampa Bay to the east coast along and north of the I4 corridor are under a High Risk for Excessive Rainfall and represents a level 4/4 for the threat of widespread flooding. Rainfall amounts of 6-12 inches, with localized totals up to 18 inches, are expected across the Florida Peninsula through Thursday. River flooding after the storm will also be a possibility. Moreover, the outer bands of Milton will be capable of producing severe weather. The Storm Prediction Center has much of central and south Florida under a Slight Risk on Wednesday for the threat of tornadoes and waterspouts embedded in tropical rainbands. Keep checking the latest forecast from the NHC, WPC, and your local NWS forecast office for the most up-to-date information regarding Milton including track, intensity, and impact information. As for the rest of the country, the theme remains the pleasantly cool eastern U.S. and the warm western and central U.S. High pressure and ridging will be responsible for the heat out west. Many areas in the Southwest could eclipse daily record highs for the month of October and there will be commonplace high temperatures in the 95-110 F range. Excessive Heat Warnings are active across the region. The Plains from Texas to North Dakota will a fall sweat. High temperatures range in the low to middle 90s across the Lone-star State and middle 80s approaching 90 by the middle of the week for the northern Great Plains. Some areas may be more than 20 degrees above expected highs in October so bring out the sun screen. Meanwhile, the east coast will be pleasant if not chilly,especially around the New England area where some Frost Advisories are in effect. Highs will be in the 70s and 60s, with lows in the 30s and 40s. Most of the areas will be dry, but the New England and Great Lakes region may feel lake effect rain showers, perhaps some mixed precipitation sprinkled in,and clouds as an upper trough persists through the middle of the week. A Pacific front looks to bring showers to the Pacific Northwest with high temperatues in 60s and lower 70s. Wilder Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php