Dear Mutual Members and Friends:

With the continued eastward projection of Hurricane Milton's path, it is imperative that we are once again prepared for a significant impact to the Florida citrus industry.

The latest report from our partners at Continental Weather Corp. shows the American Models now suggesting a Category 3 hurricane with 125-130 mph sustained winds close to the Tampa Bay area Wednesday afternoon, while the European models are a bit less aggressive, coming into Bradenton early Wednesday evening. Either way, it appears we will see a likely Category 3 hurricane with 125-130 mph sustained winds near Tampa Bay at some point Wednesday, moving eastward across central Florida Wednesday night before weakening and exiting the Florida east coast between Cape Canaveral and Vero Beach Wednesday night. (Full report can be found at the end of this email.)

Experience has taught us all that this path certainly has the potential to change at any point. With that in mind, we encourage all of you to plan and prepare.

As always, Florida Citrus Mutual is prepared to work with FDACS, FDOC and other partners to ensure that you have access to the resources necessary to both prepare for impact and to begin moving forward with recovery once the storm has passed. We have compiled a list of Emergency Contact Numbers for the Florida Emergency Information line, FEMA, FDACS, and the American Red Cross. We are also providing an overview of Federal Disaster Assistance for Agricultural Producers and the contact information for each county's Farm Service Agency office.

We understand that the potential impact to our industry is critical, however we also know that the safety and well-being of you, our growers, and your families and staff is the number one priority. Please take this time to ensure that you have a plan in place to protect yourself and those around you.

Florida Citrus Mutual continues to monitor Hurricane Milton and to pray for the safety of our state. As always, if we can be of assistance to you in the coming days please don't hesitate to call.

BULLETIN

Hurricane Milton Intermediate Advisory Number 5A

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL

100 PM CDT Sun Oct 06 2024

...AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTERS FIND MILTON RAPIDLY INTENSIFYING

INTO A HURRICANE....

SUMMARY OF 200 PM CDT INFORMATION

----------------------------------------------

LOCATION...22.5N 94.0W

ABOUT 815 MI. WSW OF TAMPA FLORIDA

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH

PRESENT MOVEMENT...E AT 6 MPH

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

--------------------

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

* Celestun to Cabo Catoche

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

* East of Cabo Catoche to Cancun

Interests in the remainder of the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, the

Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, and the northwestern Bahamas

should monitor the progress of this system.

Hurricane and Storm Surge Watches could be required for

portions of Florida late today.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

----------------------

Milton is moving toward the east near 6 mph, and this general motion is expected

today. An eastward to east-northeastward motion is forecast on

Monday, followed by a faster northeastward motion on Tuesday and

Wednesday. On the forecast track, Milton is forecast to move north

of the Yucatan Peninsula and to move across the Gulf of Mexico and

approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by midweek.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 80 mph

with higher gusts. Milton is forecast to rapidly intensify during

the next couple of days and become a major hurricane on Monday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 20 miles from

the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80

miles from the center.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

----------------------

 RAINFALL: Rainfall amounts of 5 to 8 inches, with localized totals

up to 12 inches, are expected across portions of the Florida

Peninsula and the Keys through Wednesday night. This rainfall brings

the risk of locally considerable flash, urban, and areal flooding,

along with widespread minor to moderate river flooding with major

flooding possible.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Tropical Storm

Warning area in the Yucatan Peninsula Monday night and Tuesday and

possible in the watch area on Tuesday.

SURF: Swells generated by the system are affecting the coast

of the southwestern Gulf of Mexico today. These swells are expected

to spread northward and eastward along much of the Gulf Coast by

early next week, and could cause life-threatening surf and rip

current conditions. Minor coastal flooding could also occur along

the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from large swells.

THE AMERICAN MODELS NOW SUGGEST A CAT. 3 HURRICANE WITH 125-130 MPH SUSTAINED WINDS CLOSE TO THE TAMPA BAY WED. AFTERNOON WHILE EUROPEAN MODELS ARE A BIT LESS AGGRESSIVE INTO BRADENTON, FL. EARLY WED. EVENING. REGARDLESS IT WOULD APPEAR A LIKELY CAT. 3 HURRICANE WITH 125-130 MPH SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR TAMPA BAY LATE WED. MORNING-AFERNOON THEN MOVES EASTWARD ACROSS CENTRAL FL. WED. NIGHT WHILE WEAKENING EXITING THE FL. EAST COAST BETWEEN CAPE CANVERAL AND VERO BEACH WED. NIGHT. COMPUTER MODELS SUGGEST HEAVIEST RAINS ALONG AND NORTH OF THE STORM TRACK (NORTH 1/2 FL.) WHILE STRONGEST WINDS ALONG AND JUST SOUTH OF THE STORM TRACK (CENTRAL FL.)

FINALLY, COMPUTER MODELS SUGGEST ANOTHER TROPICAL LOW WILL DEVELOP IN THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN SAT. THE MOST RECENTAMERICAN MODELS TURN IT ACROSS WESTERN CUBA TO THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS 10 DAYS FROM NOW NEVER SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING FL. THE EUROPEAN MODELS ARE INDECISIVE. WILL UPDATE...