After monitoring the storm for a week, Hurricane Milton finally made landfall in Siesta Key near Sarasota along Florida’s west central coast on Oct. 9, 2024, approximately 8:30 pm EST. The Category 3 storm struck FL with winds of 120 mph before weakening to a Category 2 as it came ashore.

Click the satellite image below to see animation, 24 images – 5-minute update.

GOES-East CONUS – GeoColor – NOAA / NESDIS / STAR

We have been monitoring Hurricane Melton and preparing the worst scenario to protect our property since 10/2/2024.  There were many so called spaghetti models presented by the news media. Major model, GFS model, Global Forecast System, was shifting time to time for Hurricane Milton forecast. Another computerized model, Euro Model, European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast was consistent on forecast and observation. It took days for the two models to finally agree that the where on the west coast the storm would make landfall.  

We were lucky this time.  There were no major issues such as power outage, falling trees at our property.

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2024/hurricane-milton

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Miami issued a tornado watch and several tornado warnings for parts of Florida as Hurricane Milton rapidly approaches west-central Florida. We had heavy rain and wind at 2:00 pm due to tornado touchdown in tradition and other location.

The tornado watch remained valid until Wednesday evening at 9pm ET and covered parts of south Florida including Miami, Key Largo, Tampa, Port St Lucie, Jupiter Farms, Sebring, Sebastian, Sarasota, North Port, Cape Coral and Bonita Springs and more,

The major impact for the Treasure Coast and counties South was the tornado that came as the feeder bands reached the East coast of Florida as the storm traveled up the West coast.  The Tornadoes that did touchdown (which there were numerous) created a lot of damage and even flipped at least four 18 wheelers on RT 95 and the turnpike. It has also been reported that a number of people did die as a result of a Tornado.

Important storm tracking links:

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/     National Hurricane Center

https://www.bbc.com/weather/map  EURO model, European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast

Melbourne, FL Weather Radar | AccuWeather

www.wunderground.com 

GOES-East CONUS – GeoColor – NOAA / NESDIS / STAR

Hurricane Idalia made landfall in North West Florida just before 8 a.m. ET, August 30, 2023, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, Category 4 hurricane.

More on Hurricane Idalia

Storm surge damage may stretch about 200 miles along Florida’s west coast, past the Tampa Bay area, and the state’s Big Bend area could get 12-16 feet of storm surge.

The National Weather Service office in Tallahassee said “locations may be uninhabitable for several weeks or months” because of wind damage. Storm surge could prevent access, too.

Important storm tracking links:

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/     National Hurricane Center

Florida Power Outages Map Provides up to date power outages throughout the state. Also, FPL.com/outage

Hurricane & Tropical Cyclones | Weather Underground (wunderground.com) Weather underground for severe weather

https://www.bbc.com/weather/map European world weather, zoom in to US.

Since living in Fl, we know that the actual hurricane season goes through Nov.  Well, here it is Nov. 10th and Hurricane Nicole come to the treasure coast as Category 1 storm with winds of 75 mph.  This is actually rare for a November hurricane to come ashore on the East coast of Fl this late in the season.  Well, Nicole made landfall on Hutchinson Island close to Vero Beach, Florida, at 3:00 am EST On Nov. 10, 2022.

Click the satellite image below to see animation, 24 images – 5-minute update

GOES-East CONUS – GeoColor – NOAA / NESDIS / STAR

Band 7 GOES-East CONUS – Band 7 – NOAA / NESDIS / STAR

Again, we were lucky this time, did not lose power.

Important storm tracking links:

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/     National Hurricane Center

Florida Power Outages Map Provides up to date power outages through out the state

Hurricane & Tropical Cyclones | Weather Underground (wunderground.com) Weather underground for severe weather

After monitoring the storm for a week, Hurricane Ian finally made landfall over Sanibel Island and then Fort Myers, in SW Florida on Sep. 28, 2022, approximately 2:00 pm EST. Click the satellite image below to see animation, 24 images – 5-minute update.

GOES-East CONUS – GeoColor – NOAA / NESDIS / STAR

Notice the eye of the storm forming

NWS Southern Region Tropical Webpage (weather.gov)

The eye of Hurricane Ian over the Dry Tortugas on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022.
Hurricane Ian Forms New Eye as It Approaches Florida: John Morales – NBC 6 South Florida (nbcmiami.com)

9/28/2022, 2:00 pm, Hurricane Ian, a strong Category 4, almost Category 5, with around 155 mph wind speeds, moving north-northeast at 9 mph.

We have been monitoring Hurricane Ian and preparing the worst scenario to protect our property at same time since 9/21/2022.  There were many so called spaghetti models presented by the news media. Major model, GFS model, Global Forecast System, was shifting to west every day for sometimes. Another computerized model, Euro Model, European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast had been consistent to make landfall on the west coast of Florida.

It took days for the two models to finally agree that the where on the west coast the storm would make landfall.  

EURO Model was originally 200+ miles east of the GFS Model prediction

EURO Model on BBC weather website, landfall position note this site provides time GMT

We were lucky this time. Tropical storm-force winds of 36 miles per hour and over 8 inches rain in some locations of St Lucie County reported 12:00 am, Wednesday, 9/28/2022. 

Important storm tracking links:

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/     National Hurricane Center

https://www.bbc.com/weather/map  EURO model, European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast

Port St Lucie, FL hurricane | Microsoft Weather (msn.com) Port St Lucie Hurricane web site

NWS Southern Region Tropical Webpage (weather.gov)

https://arcg.is/195nuP0 Florida evacuation map

Florida Power Outages Map Provides up to date power outages through out the state

Hurricane & Tropical Cyclones | Weather Underground (wunderground.com) Weather underground for severe weather

Hurricane Isaias downgraded to a tropical Storm on 8/1/2020, 5:00 pm NOAA briefing.  So it was a quiet last night. 

8/2/2020, 8:00 am, #42 Tropical Storm, 65 mph wind speeds, 35 miles from south of West Palm Beach,

8/1/2020 Hurricane Isaias Preparations

This is weird time or year.  First, a hurricane normally does not come to Florida east coast in early August or end of July.  Second, this is in the middle of Covid19 Pandemic.  Well, we do what we have to do and prepare the worst and hope the best.

We did the same thing as Hurricane Dorian, September, 2019 to set generator, water dispenser, and a portable stove at the patio just in case we have to cook when power is down. We also took down US flag, took in all orchids, secure loose pots, secure orchids on trees, check and secure trees.  We also took some photos to support potential damage of the properties.  Fortunately this just turning out to be a dry run to get ready for the real hurricane that may be showing up in September.

Here is an amazing satellite imagery of Hurricane Dorian from NOAA, Tuesday, 9/3/2019

As of 3:00pm, Tuesday, 9/3/2019, Hurricane Dorian weakened to Category 2 was 106 miles of west Port St. Lucie, FL with forward wind speed 5mph based on National Hurricane Center.

Mobile app My Hurricane Tracker or Hurricanes was easy to use.

By 5:00pm, the eye of Hurricane Dorian was almost paralleled to Sebastian, moving north with forward wind 6mph

The day was wet with hurricane Dorian outer  band wind and rain on and off.  We picked up some cabbage palm tree branches (complements of mother nature pruning system) when it was not raining.  Although there were reported many power outages, we were not bothered. So. our staging area for cooking at the patio was clean and did not even get any rain. Well, we are just calling this a dry run sort of. We still have almost 2 months before end of the hurricane peak season which runs from Sept. through Oct.

The above includes a three burner propane stove.  We brought in the wood stands to use as a table if required. 

We finally were able to take a break from Hurricane Dorian preparations, so we could write the blog before we lose power.  As of 11:00am, Monday 9/2/2019, Hurricane Dorian was Category 4, 155mph from Category 5 with forward speed 1 mile a hour and came to a standstill over the Northern Bahamas, approximately 110 miles from shore of US.

Now, stop listening to the meteorologists as they all get their information from NOAA national hurricane center.  Go directly to NOAA, obtain their latest path forecast which includes everything  including path, wind speed, ETA, size etc. https://www.weather.gov/mlb/
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Above photo was taken approximately 4:56am, 9/2/2019, www.nhc.noaa.gov

Above photo was taken approximately 1:19 pm, 9/2/2019,

We started the Hurricane Dorian Preparations last Tuesday, August 27, 2019.

In preparation for a hurricane, it is strongly recommend doing the following:

1. Purchase a water dispenser
2. Get some 2.5 and 5 gal jugs , save, and refill
3. Have a generator that is ready to start, use regular gas, not the 10% ethanol blend in it, and start on a monthly basis.
4. Get 12 AWG cords enough to run your concerns which are available @ harbor freight at a low cost and Harbor Freight gives 20% discount coupons.
5. Get reels large enough to wind cords rather that wind over hand as the cord will not knot up when unwinding -+ it is easily rewound but takes time depending upon length.  We have mostly 100′ lengths.

Planning ahead is important and then go through a dry run.

Here, we made a wooden box to cover the outdoor light for US flag made about 6 months ago,

Then, we had a little more time to secure trees, either tie to trees or anchor with ropes.  The banana trees above were completely destroyed during Hurricane Irma.  then, they all grew back nicely even produced bananas. So we did not want to lose them again. The papaya tree above was only tree we tied down before Hurricane Irma 2017.  We trimmed it and now the tree was produced again.  We would hate to lose it.

As 2:31pm, 9/2/2019, Dorian is approximately 115 miles east of Stuart, FL. https://www.weather.gov/images/mlb/fxc/Latest.gif