Surfers Get In Final Rides As Palm Beach County Comes Under Tropical Storm Watch

Dozens of surfers were catching waves under cloudy skies Monday afternoon at South Beach Park in Boca Raton, as Hurricane Milton strengthened into one of the strongest hurricanes ever to threaten landfall in history. (If the above video is not shown, access it here.)

The beach in Boca Raton, FL, Oct. 7, 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The National Weather Service issued a tropical storm watch for Palm Beach County in anticipation of the storm’s forecast landfall in the Tampa Bay area. According to the watch statement, the peak winds are expected to be sustained at 20 to 30 m.p.h. locally with gusts to 45 m.p.h.

“The wind threat has remained nearly steady from the previous assessment,” the statement from the NWS office in Miami said. “Plan for dangerous wind of equivalent strong tropical storm force.”

Fortunately, the statement said no storm surge inundation was expected in the local area, a far cry from the Gulf coast where a surge exceeding 8 feet is expected in some locales.

⚠️5PM UPDATES: HURRICANE MILTON ⚠️

🌀TROPICAL STORM WARNING: Collier, Hendry, Glades, Mainland Monroe
🌀HURRICANE WATCH: Collier, Hendry, Glades
🌀TROPICAL STORM WATCH: Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade
🌊STORM SURGE WARNING…Coastal Collier & Mainland Monroe pic.twitter.com/Twd6Bw9bmN

— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) October 7, 2024

The beach in Boca Raton, FL, Oct. 7, 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

“There is little to no threat of storm surge flooding,” the statement said, emphasizing the primary impacts will come in the form of heavy rain, thunderstorms, rough surf, coastal erosion, and life-threatening rip currents.

Palm Beach County will see a minimum of 2-4 inches of rain with more expected in localized severe storms. To that end, a flood watch is in effect through Thursday at 8 p.m. The situation is “somewhat favorable” for tornado development, the NWS said, though the threat has not worsened compared to previous assessments.

Rainfall totals expected through Oct. 10. (Credit: NWS)

The beach in Boca Raton, FL, Oct. 7, 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Hurricane Milton is now a major category 5 hurricane over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. It is forecast to remain at or near major hurricane strength as it approaches the west coast of Florida by the middle of the week, packing winds of potentially 180 m.p.h. before landfall.