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    • Polk County, impact of Hurricane Milton, Wednesday
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    Polk County, impact of Hurricane Milton, Wednesday

    Mars Posted on

    Ledger Staff and USA Today Network-Florida

    Hurricane Milton made landfall at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday near Siesta Key, a barrier island off southern Sarasota.

    The storm gradually declined in intensity until it became a Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds gusting to 125 mph on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service’s 8 p.m. update. But hurricane-force winds were still expected to blow through Polk County as it winds east-northeast across the state. Her final track predicted she would pass through Highland City and Winter Haven.

    Milton had already brought tons of rain to Polk County on Wednesday. Much of the county was under tornado and flash flood warnings early Wednesday afternoon, and the rain continued, unabated, through the night.

    On the coast, forecasters’ biggest concern is storm surge, which could reach 10 to 15 feet in several areas.

    “The anticipated storm surge in some communities will reach the level of one- or two-story buildings and may reach this level with considerable force within minutes,” AccuWeather warned.

    “Milton will be an unprecedented event in west-central Florida’s living memory, with only major hurricanes in 1848 and 1921 comparable in magnitude and height to coastal flooding,” said Dr. Ryan Truchelut, meteorologist in head of WeatherTiger. Truchelut is a Florida meteorologist who works with the USA TODAY Network.

    Polk County Forecast

    Polk County can expect hurricane force winds late Wednesday night or early Thursday.

    Austen Flannery, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay, said Wednesday morning that despite some lingering “wobbles,” Hurricane Milton remained on track to pass through Polk County.

    “There are still very significant impacts, the storm will have a significant wind field that will expand as it approaches the coast with very strong winds over the Lakeland area,” Flannery said.

    A tornado watch was in effect Wednesday morning, and by Wednesday afternoon, much of the county was under a tornado watch as strong thunderstorm cells tore through the area, showing some rotation in the clouds.

    Tropical storm-force winds began arriving in Polk as early as 2 p.m. Wednesday, but Flannery said residents should prepare for sustained winds of at least 75 mph, and more likely more than 110 mph with gusts of stronger winds at night.

    The storm is expected to bring rainfall totals of up to 12 inches, with up to 18 inches of rain in some isolated areas. The county remains under a flood watch through Thursday morning, and Wednesday afternoon a flash flood watch was issued as rains pounded the area.

    As Milton approaches Florida’s west coast, high winds and heavy rain ahead of the storm have already caused power outages throughout Polk County. Around 8 p.m., power companies reported the following power outages:

    • Lakeland Electric: 106 active outages, impacting 5,829 customers
    • Duke Energy: 39 active outages, impacting 2,042 customers
    • TECO: More than 1,000 outages in southeast Winter Haven, 155 outages north of Jan Phyl Village and more than 415 outages in the Davenport-Haines City area

    “The message is that the impacts of the storm are there,” Polk County Emergency Management Director Paul Womble said during a 5:10 p.m. update Wednesday from the Bartow Emergency Operations Center .

    “Now is the time to hunker down,” he added. “It’s not safe and the strongest part of the storm is not here.” He expected the heaviest precipitation and winds to occur after dark.

    Several locations in the county have experienced downed power lines and, due to significant rain, flash flood warnings are active and have been verified, Womble said.

    “There are several places with water along the roads,” he said.

    There were numerous tornado warnings in Polk County Wednesday afternoon, but no confirmed landfall of a funnel cloud, he said. Highlands County, just south of Polk, had a confirmed tornado landfall.

    The shelters now house about 5,500 people and have remained open, Womble said.

    Citrus Connection had been transporting people to special shelters since 6 a.m. Wednesday, but planned to stop once winds reached 45 mph. All shelters will accept people until weather conditions become too dangerous to open the doors.

    Still, Womble said it’s best to stay hunkered down for now until it’s safer tomorrow.

    play

    Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has a message for looters during Milton

    Thinking about the looting after Hurricane Milton? Sheriff Grady Judd has a message for you: not in Polk County.

    The Florida Highway Patrol reported an overturned RV and pickup truck were blocking both eastbound lanes of the Polk Parkway at mile marker 17, near U.S. 92.

    No injuries were reported.

    The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said two roads were impassable due to torrential rains from Hurricane Milton.

    In Lakeland, Reynolds Road is flooded at Maine Avenue. And in Winter Haven, Northwest 42nd Street at Avenue Q is also flooded.

    “Please avoid these areas and do not attempt to cross flooded streets,” the sheriff’s office said.

    The National Weather Service in Tampa issued a flash flood warning for Polk County until 3:15 p.m. as torrential rains from Hurricane Milton battered the area.

    “At 3:12 p.m. EDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain in the warned area. Between 2 and 4 inches of rain fell,” the alert states. “Additional rain amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible in the alerted area. Flash flooding is in progress or expected to begin shortly.”

    The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a tornado warning for northwest Polk County. This is in effect until 3:15 p.m.

    At 2:42 p.m., the NWS detected a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado over Winter Haven, moving northwest at 25 mph. Radar indicated a rotation within the storm, the NWS said in an update.

    The agency warned of possible flying debris. If a tornado forms, mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed, the NWS said. Damage to roofs, windows and vehicles will be caused, and tree damage is likely.

    The storm poses danger to Polk City, Inwood, Lake Alfred, Winter Haven Airport, Kathleen, Gibsonia, Eagle Lake, Cypress Gardens and Lake Hamilton, the NWS said.

    Two radar-equipped areas indicated possible tornado activity was reported Wednesday with possible winds of 80 mph and hail moving south of Dundee, Lake Wales, Frostproof and Davenport, TV News Channel reported 2 in Orlando.

    Part of the rotation lasted up to 20 minutes in the atmosphere, according to the report.

    Additionally, the NWS issued a tornado warning at 1:48 p.m. Wednesday until 9 p.m. for Polk County and nine other south and southwest Florida moving north.

    Polk County government offices will be closed Wednesday through Friday with plans to reopen to the public Monday, a news release issued Wednesday states.

    The Polk Commission’s agenda review scheduled for Friday was canceled and rescheduled for Monday in Room 407 of the Polk County Government Administration Building, 330 W. Church St., Bartow.

    Avelo Airlines has made the decision to cancel its 7:30 p.m. Thursday outbound flight to Tweed Airport in New Haven, Connecticut, according to Airport Director Kris Hallstrand.

    At a news conference Wednesday morning, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the LifeScience Logistics warehouse at 310 N. Galloway Road in Lakeland is one of several “shelters of last resort” that the State will make available to residents fleeing Hurricane Milton. DeSantis did not offer additional details.

    The facility opened in 2021. The company that operates the 100,000 square foot warehouse was awarded a state contract to manage the supply of drugs imported from Canada.

    The NWS has revised its forecast for the Peace River on State Route 60 in Bartow as of Tuesday. He now predicts major flooding in Bartow by Sunday.

    As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the NWS said the water level on the Peace River at SR 60 in Bartow is expected to reach 7 feet, still below minor flood levels.

    After Hurricane Milton dumped at least a foot of rain in parts of Central Florida, NWS forecasts tell a different story.

    On Thursday, the Peace River is expected to reach action stage, then on Friday it will reach moderate flood levels, according to the NWS forecast. At 2 a.m. Sunday, the river will reach 10.1 feet, which is considered a major flood stage.

    For comparison, the all-time watermark record at Bartow was 11.1 feet.

    Mars
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