Monstrous Milton is now a CAT 5 hurricane!

10-7-24. 4:30pm. This Update is brought to you by Davy Ranch Supply in Yorktown, TX. davyranchsupply.com

Monstrous Milton is now a CAT 5 storm with sustained winds of 180 mph as of 4pm! This is like a giant tornado in the Gulf!

From the NHC: "On Wednesday, Milton is expected
to encounter a less favorable environment with strong shear and dry air entrainment, with further weakening forecast. Regardless, the system is expected to be a large and powerful hurricane at landfall in Florida, with life-threatening hazards at the coastline and well inland. Residents in Florida should closely follow the orders from their local emergency management officials, as Milton has the
potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record
for west-central Florida."

Some of you have asked my why Milton is traveling east instead of north or west. Hurricanes in October are often influenced by cold fronts and high pressure. The evil high pressure over us extends into the Gulf, along with a cool front that will move south into the Gulf on Wednesday, is steering Milton to the east and then the NE. This fall pattern normally steers hurricanes away from Texas...our highest odds for seeing hurricanes are August and September.

When you look at the latest water vapor imagery below, you will see the very dry air to the north of Milton (in yellow and orange). This dry air and wind shear may weaken Milton before landfall on Wednesday, but it will still come in as at least a CAT 4 storm.

For us, more of the same, with at least some relief at night with lows in the 50's-60's because of dry air in place.

Mark