Naples mayor is concerned about the tide rising as the storm surge comes
High tide is approaching in Naples, Florida, and officials are on high alert, Mayor Teresa Heitmann told CNN.
“As the storm surge and high tide arrive, we know we’re about to face a serious, major storm,” she said, adding that strong winds are also expected to persist through the night.
“It’s concerning because this feels like Ian all over again,” she added, referring to the devastating 2022 hurricane.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that high tide in Naples is expected just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and again shortly after 4 a.m. Thursday.
The mayor noted that the city managed to pump out its stormwater and sewage systems following Hurricane Helene and in preparation for Milton.
Naples has enacted a curfew starting at 4 p.m., but many residents have chosen to stay, she said.
Milton’s wind field to stretch from Miami to Savannah
Hurricane Milton’s expanding wind field is expected to cover nearly the entire Florida Peninsula as it moves across the state from Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
The storm’s tropical storm-force winds, with sustained speeds of 39 mph or higher, have more than doubled in size since yesterday and now extend over 300 miles from one side to the other.
By Thursday morning, the wind field is expected to grow even larger, reaching a vast span of 425 miles
This expanded reach will cover a significant portion of the southeastern United States, stretching from Miami in the south to Savannah, Georgia, in the north.
Such a broad wind field will likely impact a wide range of communities, bringing sustained strong winds, possible power outages, and increased risk of damage across the region.
