As Hurricane Milton approached the state of Florida, ports across the state temporarily suspended operations. A report from Port Technology International explained that port closures were initiated in Tampa and Sarasota in preparation for the storm.
Terminals in South Carolina—including the Port of Charleston—implemented navigation limitations ahead of the hurricane. The source also noted that JAXPORT issued a port status ZULU, indicating the risk of gale-force gusts within 12 hours as Hurricane Milton approaches. The port announced it will be closed today, October 10, with inbound cargo flow to its major gates having ceased at 10 a.m. yesterday morning. The port intends to reopen its main gates on the morning of October 11, subject to the satisfactory completion of facilities evaluations.
Hurricane Milton strengthened into a Category 4 storm and was expected to make landfall as “an extremely dangerous major hurricane” last night or early this morning, according to predictions from the National Hurricane Center.
Additional reporting from The Washington Post noted that Milton has shown maximum sustained winds of nearly 155 mph with stronger gusts, posing a threat across the Tampa, Sarasota, and Fort Myers regions. The storm also brought what the National Hurricane Center referred to as “damaging hurricane-force winds,” with coastal communities facing the potential of a “life-threatening storm surge.”
We will continue to monitor the situation as Hurricane Milton and the situation on the ground develops.
