Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 405 PM EDT Wed Oct 09 2024 Valid 00Z Thu Oct 10 2024 - 00Z Sat Oct 12 2024 ...Major Hurricane MILTON is expected to make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida overnight Wednesday... ...There is a High Risk of excessive rainfall over parts of the Florida Peninsula... ...There is an Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Florida Peninsula... Major Hurricane MILTON continues to advance across the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to move northeastward and make landfall along the west coast of Florida late Wednesday/early Thursday. Expected impacts include a large area of destructive storm surge, with highest inundations of 10 feet or greater, and devastating hurricane-force winds along portions of the west-central coast of Florida. Milton is expected to remain a hurricane while it crosses the peninsula, bringing life-threatening hurricane-force winds, especially in gusts inland. Preparations to protect life and property, including being ready for long-duration power outages, should be rushed to completion as winds and rain will begin to pick up rapidly through Wednesday as the storm approaches. Moreover, heavy rain will be associated with MILTON. Therefore, the WPC has issued a High Risk (level 4/4) of excessive rainfall over parts of the Florida Peninsula through Thursday morning. Severe, widespread flash flooding is expected. In addition, areas that normally do not experience flash flooding will flood. Lives and property are in great danger. Further, several tornadoes, including a few strong tornadoes, are likely this Wednesday afternoon and night across parts of the central/southern Florida Peninsula in association with Hurricane MILTON. Therefore, the SPC has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Florida Peninsula through Thursday morning. The hazards associated with these thunderstorms are frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts, a few tornadoes, and minimal threat of hail. The threat of excessive rainfall continues over the eastern portion of the Florida Peninsula. Therefore, the WPC has issued a High Risk (level 4/4) of excessive rainfall over parts of the eastern portion of the Florida Peninsula from Thursday through Friday morning. Severe, widespread flash flooding is expected. In addition, areas that normally do not experience flash flooding will flood. Lives and property are in great danger. However, the threat of severe weather has decreased yet continues. Therefore, a brief tornado or two remains possible during the late morning Thursday along the east-central to northeast Florida coast. The threat of excessive rainfall and severe thunderstorms will end by Friday. Meanwhile, an upper-level low over Southeastern Canada/Northeast U. S. will produce light rain over parts of the Northeast through Friday morning. Moreover, another area of upper-level energy over parts of the Central/Southern Plains will trigger scattered showers and thunderstorms over the region through Friday. Furthermore, on Wednesday evening, a front extending from the Northern Rockies to the Great Basin and then into Northern California will move slowly to the Upper Great Lakes to the Central Plains and then into the Northern Intermountain Region by Friday. Associated upper-level energy will aid in producing scattered light rain over parts of the Pacific Northwest through late Wednesday night. Overnight Thursday, as the front moves into the Upper Great Lakes, showers and thunderstorms will develop over parts of the Upper Great Lakes. Ziegenfelder Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php