The National Hurricane Center has raised the maximum potential storm surge for Milton from 8 to 12 feet to 10 to 15 feet. Surge levels will be worse along and just to the South of where the eye makes landfall. Forecast Storm Surge Values Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota Counties: 10 - 15 feet

A life-threatening storm surge of 10 to 15 feet is forecast for Manatee and Sarasota counties. Flannery stressed that the storm surge will be more than double that of the record storm surge from Hurricane Helene – also accompanied by “very, very strong winds.”