On Monday at 9:52 p.m. the National Weather Service issued an updated tropical cyclone statement in effect until Tuesday at 5 a.m. for Coffee, Dale, Henry, Geneva and Houston counties.

The following information is provided by the weather service:

This product covers eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: – A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Coastal Dixie, Coastal Franklin, Coastal Jefferson, Coastal Taylor, Coastal Wakulla, Inland Dixie, Inland Taylor, and Lafayette – A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Inland Jefferson and Madison STORM INFORMATION: – About 630 miles south-southwest of Apalachicola or about 690 miles south-southwest of Tallahassee – 21.8N 89.9W – Storm Intensity 165 mph – Movement East or 90 degrees at 9 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW —————— At 10 p.m., Major Hurricane Milton is a powerful category 5 hurricane just north of the Yucatan Peninsula, moving eastward. While Milton is forecast to weaken over the next couple days, it will still be a dangerous major hurricane when it makes landfall along the west coast of Florida on Wednesday. However, locally we will only have peripheral impacts from wind and rain. While Milton is currently a small hurricane by size, the wind field is forecast to grow larger as it approaches Florida. Additionally, it will begin to interact with a cold front moving southeast over the Florida Panhandle. This expansion in the wind field will help to increase winds on the northwest side of the circulation. Thus tropical storm conditions are likely across the Apalachee Bay coastline, and into the southeast portions of the Florida Big Bend in and east of Jefferson County, Florida. Note, while gusty winds may not reach tropical storm strength across much of the area, they could still hamper recovery efforts from Helene and cause additional damage to weakened trees or structures. In addition to the wind threat, heavy rainfall is likely across the southeast Big Bend. As Milton interacts with the cold front, a band of heavy rain may materialize that could produce 3 to 5 inches of rain, with local amounts potentially higher across the lower Suwannee Valley. This could result in some localized flash flooding. There will be a very sharp cutoff in the higher rainfall amounts on the northwestern side of the Milton so any subtle shifts in track could bring higher, or lower, amounts of rainfall to those who reside along the current gradient of heavy rain. This gradient now stretches from Steinhatchee northeast through Lake City, Florida. Tornadoes and significant storm surge are currently not a concern with the forecast track of Milton. However, storm surge will be highly track dependent. Any shifts in the track northward may bring a storm surge threat into the some portions of Apalachee Bay. With strong easterly flow ahead of the storm, there will at least be some potential for minor coastal flooding under 3 feet, mostly along any east-facing beaches. Dangerous marine conditions are also expected with building waves and strengthening winds beginning Wednesday and persisting into Thursday afternoon or evening. This will result in high surf and deadly rip currents along all area beaches for much of the upcoming week. POTENTIAL IMPACTS —————– * WIND: Protect against dangerous wind having possible significant impacts across the southeast Florida Big Bend. Potential impacts in this area include: – Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight objects become dangerous projectiles. – Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Several fences and roadway signs blown over. – Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. A few bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable. – Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent in areas with above ground lines. Also, prepare for dangerous wind having possible limited to impacts across the coast of the Apalachee Bay extending westwards towards the Indian Pass. Elsewhere across eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, little to no impact is anticipated. FLOODING RAIN: Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible extensive impacts across the southeast Florida Big Bend. Potential impacts include: – Heavy rainfall flooding may prompt some evacuations and rescues. – Rivers and tributaries could rapidly overflow their banks in some places. Small streams, creeks, and ditches may become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed. – Flood waters can enter several structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Many places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out. Elsewhere across eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, little to no impact is anticipated. SURGE: Protect against locally hazardous surge having possible limited impacts across the Apalachee Bay. Potential impacts in this area include: – Localized inundation with storm surge flooding mainly along immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots, or in areas farther inland near where higher surge waters move ashore. – Sections of near-shore roads and parking lots become overspread with surge water. Driving conditions dangerous in places where surge water covers the road. – Moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf also breaching dunes, mainly in usually vulnerable locations. Strong rip currents. – Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings. Elsewhere across eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, little to no impact is anticipated. TORNADOES: Little to no impacts are anticipated at this time across eastern Florida panhandle, Florida Big Bend, southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ———————————- * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding. When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging wind gusts, storm surge, and tornadoes extend well away from the center of the storm.

NEXT UPDATE ———– The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Tallahassee FL around 4 a.m., or sooner if conditions warrant.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.