Another major storm might be headed toward Central Florida.
The National Hurricane Center is forecasting Tropical Storm Milton could grow into a hurricane early Monday, with a path that could see it hit the Tampa Bay area as a major hurricane on Wednesday afternoon.
From there, the storm's current predicted path takes it along Interstate 4 through Central Florida.
There are not yet any Tropical Storm or Hurricane watches or warnings in effect in Florida, but those should be expected within the next couple of days, should Milton hold on this path. The NHC has advised, "There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday."
The projected path of the storm would have it pass over all the major Central Florida theme parks, from Busch Gardens Tampa and Legoland Florida to Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando, and the Universal Orlando Resort.
Milton takes aim at Florida as the southeast recovers from Hurricane Helene, which struck the Florida panhandle and whose remnants contributed to deadly flooding in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Yesterday, Dolly Parton announced that a $1 million donation for flood relief to the Mountain Ways Foundation, with Dollywood Parks & Resorts also contributing $1 million. Dollywood also is accepting at the park's entrance donations of supplies for the relief effort.
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@TH: I’m in Jacksonville and the my mom lives just outside of Valdosta in Lake Park, GA. They got hit really hard by Helene. As a native Floridian it never ceases to amaze me how quick people are to shun hurricane warnings. All it takes it one time.
I have friends in your area and I hope that they, and you and yours all remain safe. Stay well.
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This one is a little scary. Our house is about seven miles as the crow flies from WDW property. We have CMs in the family. It looks like it will be Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning when we experience the brunt of the storm.
Godspeed Florida.