Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene made landfall and impacted much of South Georgia, northeast Florida and southeast Georgia are now again preparing for another hurricane from the Gulf coast.
Hurricane Milton is a major hurricane that is expected to make landfall Thursday (August 6) along the Florida west coast. It is fifth hurricane to hit the mainland this year.
Milton is expected to bring heavy amounts of rain along with some wind to southeast Georgia.
Brantley County will feel the effects of the outer bands beginning today (Wednesday, October 9).
The National Weather Service says the greatest impacted areas will northeast Florida and southeast Georgia.
The hurricane quickly strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane Monday, October 7, after intensifying rapidly over the warm water in the Gulf of Mexico with wind speeds topping at 180 miles per hour at the 5:30 p.m. advisory. It is the second Category 5 storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane seaso, joining Beryl.
Milton’s intensity “should be dictated by any eyewall replacement cycles, which will likely cause the system to gradually weaken but grow larger,” the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.
Since 1950, only five other years have had at least two Atlantic Category 5 hurricanes, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach — 1961: Esther, Hattie; 2005: Emily, Katrina, Rita, Wilma; 2007: Dean, Felix; 2017: Irma, Maria; 2019: Dorian, Lorenzo.
Only four hurricanes have ever hit the U.S. at Category 5 strength — the most recent being Hurricane Michael in 2018.
The latest models show the major hurricane going straight across the state of Florida out into the Atlantic According to the National Weather Service, onshore winds will strengthen late Tuesday, October 8, and continue through Thursday, October 10. The winds could possibly bring even more power outages, tree damage and structure damage.
Many citizens have recovered or are still recovering from Hurricane Helene after it left power outages all throughout the state of Georgia, with many citizens still without electricity.
As of Monday, October 7 at 7:45 a.m., Georgia Power reported it still had 19,071 customers without power.
Okefenokee REMC reports are clear with help being sent to areas still without power.
A National Weather Service release offers a few tips on how to prepare for the upcoming storm.
“Protect your home — cover windows, secure doors and loose items. Determine sheltering options and consider your pets. Ready your to go bag, medicines and supplies, charge your phone, fill up or charge your vehicle. Help your neighbors, especially the elderly and other vulnerable people.”
