A Severe Geomagnetic Storm [G4]-nearing G5 strength-could make the northern lights viewable for a good chunk of the U.S. tonight, even extending as northern Florida [on the northern horizon].

**Geomagnetic Storm strengths and impacts**
![Geomagnetic Storm strengths and impacts](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Geomagnetic_Storm_strengths_and_impacts_6570886ecc.png)

The favored areas to view the northern lights will be for northern and central locations in the U.S. but even parts of the South have the potential to see the northern lights tonight.

**Forecast for areas that could see the northern lights**
![ Forecast for areas that could see the northern lights](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Forecast_for_areas_that_could_see_the_northern_lights_92fbb0aa02.JPG)

The optimal timeframe will be late tonight and early Friday morning. To increase your chances of seeing the northern lights, get away from light pollution from cities and look toward the northern horizon. You also have a better shot of seeing the northern lights utilizing your phone-long exposure/night-mode.

There's a lack of significant storm system impacting the U.S. tonight so minimal cloud coverage will allow for good viewability for most folks. Parts of New England, the central U.S. Rockies and Northern Plains could see some clouds, but other areas will be clear.

**Cloud coverage forecast tonight [blue is clouds, white is clear skies]**
![Cloud coverage forecast tonight [blue is clouds, white is clear skies]](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Cloud_coverage_forecast_tonight_blue_is_clouds_white_is_clear_skies_fd8eb5c6ef.png)

Geomagnetic Storm strengths and impacts

A Severe Geomagnetic Storm [G4] could make the northern lights viewable for a good chunk of the U.S. tonight, even extending as northern Florida.

A Severe Geomagnetic Storm could make the northern lights viewable as far south as Florida

Hurricane and Storm Surge Warnings are in effect for parts of Florida, both the west and east coasts of the state, ahead of Major Hurricane Milton that's forecast to make landfall Wednesday night.

Milton underwent super-rapid intensification Sunday night through Monday, intensifying into one of the strongest hurricanes on record with a central pressure of 897 mb and maximum sustained winds of 180 mph. Since then, Milton has undergone a weakening trend as it underwent an eye wall replacement cycle overnight Monday and early Tuesday but Milton remains a power Category 4 as of Tuesday morning. In fact, it's just a few mph shy of a Category 5 and should obtain Category 5 status again on Tuesday afternoon.

As Milton continues to move east northeastward throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, it's forecast to make landfall Wednesday night along the western Florida peninsula coast as a major Category 3 hurricane. It cannot be ruled out that the hurricane could be Category 4 at landfall. Regardless of Category 3 or 4, the impacts will be the same. The slight lessening in intensity will be caused by less favorable environmental conditions due to increased shear and dry air, but regardless, the hurricane will remain powerful. Despite the forecast landfall late Wednesday, impacts will begin being felt overnight Tuesday and early Wednesday morning as the hurricane approaches the coast of Florida and will linger through Thursday.

**Current (Tuesday morning) Milton forecast**
![Current (Tuesday morning) Milton forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Current_Tuesday_morning_Milton_forecast_e9729c0583.webp)

As mentioned, the Hurricane Warning has been extended from coast to coast across parts of Florida with additional parts of the state under Tropical Storm Warnings. Tropical Storm Watches extend along the coast of Georgia up along coastal South Carolina, including Charleston and Savannah.

**Current (Tuesday morning) tropical alerts**
![Current (Tuesday morning) tropical alerts](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Current_Tuesday_morning_tropical_alerts_3839a9dc46.png)

Storm Surge Warnings and Watches are also in effect for nearly the entire western coast of Florida with the northeast coast of Florida now being included in the Storm Surge Warning. Parts of the Storm Surge Warning, along the western coast, could see a storm surge of 10-15 feet. Localized 20 foot amounts cannot be completely ruled out. This geometry of the trajectory of Milton and the continental shelf along and just off the western coast of Florida will allow the water and storm surge to really 'pile up' and build.The highest surge will be near the center and just south of the immediate center of Milton late Wednesday. This could include both Tampa Bay and Fort Myers. Keep in mind, slight fluctuations in track and the motion of the track could have significant impacts of the storm surge levels.

A Storm Surge Watch extends from coastal Georgia and along coastal South Carolina, including Charleston and Savannah. These areas could see a storm surge up to 5 feet.

**Current (Tuesday morning) storm surge alerts
**
![Current (Tuesday morning) storm surge alerts](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Current_Tuesday_morning_storm_surge_alerts_e9842e1a23.webp)

**Current (Tuesday morning) storm surge forecast**
![Current (Tuesday morning) storm surge forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Current_Tuesday_morning_storm_surge_forecast_fa9d5fb32f.webp)

**Current (Tuesday morning) storm surge forecast--Tampa Bay**
![Current (Tuesday morning) storm surge forecast--Tampa Bay](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Current_Tuesday_morning_storm_surge_forecast_Tampa_Bay_740d37297f.png)

Along with hurricane conditions (wind and storm surge), heavy rain is forecast with Milton that will lead to localized rainfall amounts of up to one foot in Florida, leading to a high flash flood risk. The heaviest rain, or the dirty side of the system, will be on the north side of the center of Milton. From the center north, potentially along a line from Tampa Bay to Orlando, northward toward Jacksonville, is forecast to see the heaviest rain. While the heaviest rain is forecast in Florida, it should be noted that coastal and far southeastern Georgia will see up to a few inches of rain too. The squalls that produce the heavy rain could spin up tornadoes over the next couple of days across Florida.

**Milton rainfall forecast**
![Milton rainfall forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Milton_rainfall_forecast_f431f38571.png)

Please keep a close eye on the forecast, have multiple reliable sources of information and listen to all local officials. If you're told to evacuate, evacuate. Never cross roadways covered by water.

Current (Tuesday morning) Milton forecast

Hurricane and Storm Surge Warnings are in effect for parts of Florida with alerts extending into Georgia and South Carolina ahead of Major Hurricane Milton.

Hurricane Milton impacts, forecast from Florida to Georgia and South Carolina

Hurricane Milton underwent rapid intensification (an increase in the maximum sustained winds in a tropical cyclone of at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period) Sunday night and Monday.

In fact, Milton went from Category 1 strength to Category 5 strength in about half-a-day, growing into an intense Category 5 with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph as of Monday evening and further strengthening not off the table. This quick increase in immense intensity has left many folks wondering _if there's a Category 6_, and if so, if Milton will obtain that intensity.

![Hurricane Milton](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Hurricane_Milton_ca79d3a9b9.JPG)

**There's no official Category 6**—or greater—for hurricanes. The current intensity measurement for hurricanes is the Saffir-Simpson Scale, which is assigns a rating—of 1 to 5—based on a hurricane's maximum sustained wind speed in which the categories increase by around 20 mph increments.

**Category 1**: Wind speeds between 74 to 95 mph

**Category 2**: Wind speeds between 96 and 110 mph

**Category 3**: Wind speeds between 111-129 mph; is considered a "major" hurricane

**Category 4**: Wind speeds between 130-156 mph; is considered a "major" hurricane

**Category 5**: Wind speeds 157 mph and higher; is considered a "major" hurricane

Some tropical experts and scientists have tossed around the idea, proposing a new category—Category 6—be added to the Saffir-Simpson Scale designated for the most intense hurricanes that approach wind speeds of 200 mph. Some of these experts suggest this is needed because of the potential increase in intensity of hurricanes as the climate changes—such that the Saffir-Simpson Scale, developed more than five decades ago, may not show the true potential and power of the most intense hurricanes. The proposal is that hurricanes that achieve maximum sustained winds of 192+ mph be classified as Category 6.

While this Category 6 idea has been proposed, and could be a real possibility in the future, don't expect it any time soon.

Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton has 180 mph winds. Could it become a Category 6?

Category 6?

Milton is now a Major Category 4 Hurricane as of Monday morning. The speed in which Milton intensified is unfathomable. The Hurricane intensified from 90 mph Sunday night (11 pm) to 155 mph Monday morning (11 am) which is a 65 mph increase in just 12 hours. The central pressure fell from 977 mb to 933 mb, a 44 mb drop, in just 12 hours.

To qualify as rapid intensification (RI), a tropical cyclone must undergo a 35 mph increase in wind speed in a 24-hour period, so Milton's intensification is beyond RI or more like a super RI. As of Monday morning, Milton is just 2 mph away from becoming a Category 5 Hurricane. This will likely happen.

**Latest look at Hurricane Milton via satellite**
![Latest look at Hurricane Milton via satellite](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Latest_look_at_Hurricane_Milton_via_satellite_9cffbc6094.png)

It should be noted, Milton is not forecast to make landfall as a Category 5 Hurricane but could make landfall as a Category 3—still a Major Hurricane.

Latest look at Hurricane Milton via satellite

Milton undergoes super rapid intensification, nearing Category 5 status.

Milton undergoes super rapid intensification, nearing CAT 5

Milton explodes overnight undergoing rapid intensification into a Major Category 3 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. Additional strengthening is forecast over the next 24-36 hours. Landfall is forecast in Florida late Wednesday as a Major Hurricane.

**Latest advisory on Milton from the NHC (7AM Monday)**
![Latest advisory on Milton from the NHC (7AM Monday)](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Latest_advisory_on_Milton_from_the_NHC_7_AM_Monday_beac40fd0b.jpg)

Latest advisory on Milton from the NHC (7AM Monday)

Milton explodes overnight undergoing rapid intensification into a Major Category 3 Hurricane.

Milton explodes into Major Category 3 Hurricane

The latest update from the National Hurricane Center calls for a Major Category 3 Hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph with higher gusts. This new advisory also calls for Milton to potentially maintain that peak intensity as it nears the western Florida peninsula on Wednesday—either late morning or early afternoon--tropical storm-force winds begin late Tuesday, increasing to hurricane-force by early Wednesday.

**Latest (Saturday evening) NHC forecast cone for Milton**
![ Latest (Saturday evening) NHC forecast cone for Milton](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Latest_Saturday_evening_NHC_forecast_cone_for_Milton_8d10f87618.jpg)

**Latest (Saturday evening) NHC forecast cone for Milton-hyperlocal**
![ Latest (Saturday evening) NHC forecast cone for Milton-hyperlocal](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Latest_Saturday_evening_NHC_forecast_cone_for_Milton_hyperlocal_59212217dc.jpg)

This intensity and trajectory of Milton will create a large storm surge for parts of the western Florida Peninsula coastline. The highest storm surge will be on the southern side of the hurricane as it moves east toward Florida, potentially 10-15 feet in some cases. The specifics will be ironed out over the coming day(s).

While the latest forecast has the center of the cone directly over Tampa Bay, which would potentially make this quite devastating for the city, it does not mean the eye will track directly over Tampa. Instead, it could lie anywhere within the cone. Regardless of landfall location, impacts from this hurricane will be felt well beyond where the center makes landfall so, please prepare if you live anywhere in Florida.

Keep a close eye on the forecast for important updates. 

 Latest (Saturday evening) NHC forecast cone for Milton-hyperlocal

Milton is forecast to become a Major Category 3 Hurricane making landfall in Florida midweek.

All blogs

A Severe Geomagnetic Storm could make the northern lights viewable as far south as Florida

Hurricane Milton impacts, forecast from Florida to Georgia and South Carolina

Category 6?

Milton undergoes super rapid intensification, nearing CAT 5

Milton explodes into Major Category 3 Hurricane

Milton to become Major Category 3 Hurricane, Florida landfall midweek