News

Please contact us at northamerica@s-5.org for additional, specific port information.

As of 10 AM Oct 08 US East Coast time 

USCG Sector Mobile
Panama City, FL: Port Condition X-RAY was set effective 2000/06-Oct and remains.
NOTE: Mobile-AL & Pascagoula-MS have not set additional port conditions to Port Condition IV. 

USCG Sector St Petersburg
Tampa Bay/Manatee: Port Condition ZULU was set effective 0800/08-Oct and remains. No vessel movements and no port waterfront operations are permitted.

USCG Sector Miami
West Palm Beach: Port Condition ZULU will be set effective 1800/08-Oct. Port is closed to vessel movements and water side operations.
Miami/Port Everglades: Port Condition YANKEE was set effective 0000/08-Oct and remains. Ports are closed to inbound vessel movements unless approval is granted by USCG.


USCG Sector Jacksonville
Port Canaveral: Port Condition ZULU was set effective 0600/09-Oct. No vessel movements and no port waterfront operations are permitted.
Jacksonville/Fernandina Beach: Port Condition ZULU was set effective 0600/09-Oct. No vessel movements and no port waterfront operations are permitted.
NOTE: At JAX, seas of 12’ are estimated to occur for +/- 24hrs from abt 1400/10 – 1400/11. Pilots can usually board vessels up to 12’ (cruise vessels up to 8’). Next port partner call will be 1130/09-Oct.

USCG Sector Savannah
Brunswick: Port Condition YANKEE was set effective 2000/08-Oct. Port is closed to inbound vessel movements unless approval has already been granted by USCG.
Savannah: Port Condition WHISKEY was set effective 1400/07-Oct and remains.  Port remains open to vessel and cargo operations.
NOTE: TS force winds may be expected to remain at the river mouth and near shore through AM/09. Inland winds of 20 knots with 35 knot gusts are expected. Wind and tidal variance up to 10’ are main concerns. Next call to discuss conditions and operations is scheduled for 1145/09-Oct.

USCG Sector Charleston
Charleston: Port Condition WHISKEY was set effective 2000/07-Oct and remains.
NOTE: Vessels bound for Charleston which are unable to depart 24 hours prior to threatening winds making landfall are advised to seek an alternate destination. However, port remain open to vessel and cargo operations. Next port partner call will be 1400/09-Oct.

(See Port Conditions explanation below the NOAA graphics)

Storm Forecast per NOAA.gov
At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Milton was located near latitude 25.0 North, longitude 84.8 West. Milton is moving toward the northeast near 16 mph (26 km/h).  A northeastward motion is expected through tonight.  A turn toward the east-northeast and east is expected on Thursday and Friday.  On the forecast track, the center of Milton will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico today, make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida late tonight or early Thursday morning, and move off the east coast of Florida over the western Atlantic Ocean Thursday afternoon.
Maximum sustained winds are near 155 mph (250 km/h) with higher gusts.  Milton is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Milton is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida tonight. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 km). The minimum central pressure based on NOAA and Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter data is 915 mb (27.02 inches).
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As of 09 AM 08-Oct (US East Coast Time)

USCG Sector Mobile
Panama City, FL: Port Condition X-RAY was set effective 2000/06-Oct and remains.
NOTE: Mobile-AL & Pascagoula-MS have not set additional port conditions to Port Condition IV. 

USCG Sector St Petersburg
Tampa Bay/Manatee: Port Condition ZULU was set effective 0800/08-Oct. No vessel movements and no port waterfront operations are permitted.
NOTE: Next call to discuss conditions and operations is TBD. 

USCG Sector Miami
Miami/Port Everglades/West Palm Beach: Port Condition YANKEE was set effective 0000/08-Oct (today). Ports are closed to inbound vessel movements. As of this message, we are unaware of plans for additional port condition settings.

USCG Sector Jacksonville:
Port Canaveral/Jacksonville/Fernandina Beach: Port Condition YANKEE was set effective 0800/08-Oct. Ports are closed to inbound vessel movements. Port Condition ZULU is currently expected to be set between 2008/08 – early AM/09.
NOTE: Seas of 8’ are expected through Sunday AM. Pilots can board vessels up to 12’ (cruise vessels up to 8’). Shore cranes will be pinned when winds reach 30-35 mph. Next port partner call will be 1130/08-Oct. 

USCG Sector Savannah
Brunswick: Port Condition X-RAY was set effective 1200/07-Oct and remains. Port remains open to vessel and cargo operations.
Savannah: Port Condition WHISKEY was set effective 1400/07-Oct and remains.  Port remains open to vessel and cargo operations.
NOTE: TS force winds may be expected to remain at the river mouth and near shore through AM/09. Inland winds of 20 knots with 35 knot gusts are expected. Wind and tidal variance up to 10’ are main concerns. Next call to discuss conditions and operations is scheduled for 1100/08.

USCG Sector Charleston
Charleston: Port Condition WHISKEY was set effective 2000/07-Oct. Vessels bound for Charleston which are unable to depart 24 hours prior to threatening winds making landfall are advised to seek an alternate destination. However, port remain open to vessel and cargo operations.

(See Port Conditions explanation below the NOAA graphics)

Storm Forecast per NOAA.gov:
At 700 AM CDT (1200 UTC), the centre of Hurricane Milton was located near latitude 22.5 North, longitude 88.8 West. Milton is moving toward the east-northeast near 12 mph (19 km/h). A turn toward the east-northeast and northeast is expected today and Wednesday.  On the forecast track, the center of Milton is forecast to move just north of the Yucatan Peninsula today and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula on Wednesday.  The hurricane is forecast to make landfall in Florida Wednesday night.
Maximum sustained winds are near 145 mph (230 km/h) with higher gusts.  Milton is an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  While fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km). The minimum central pressure based on aircraft dropsonde data is 929 mb (27.43 inches).

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As of 9AM, 7 October 2024 US East Coast time

Storm Milton has intensified into a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph. The National Weather Service in Jacksonville (NWS-JAX) has expressed concerns that the storm could potentially reach Category 5 due to favorable conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasts suggest the storm will continue strengthening, reaching Category 4 later today, and it is expected to impact the Florida Peninsula by Wednesday.

USCG Sector Mobile
Panama City, FL: Port Condition X-RAY was set effective 2000/06-Oct.
NOTE: Mobile-AL & Pascagoula-MS have not set additional port conditions to Port Condition IV.

USCG Sector St Petersburg
Tampa Bay/Manatee: Port Condition X-RAY was set effective 1400/06-Oct. Port Condition YANKEE will be set effective 2000/07-Oct (today). Port Condition ZULU will be set 0800/08-Oct.
NOTE: Next call to discuss conditions and operations is scheduled for 0900/08-Oct (today).

USCG Sector Miami
Miami/Port Everglades/West Palm Beach: Port Condition X-RAY was set effective 1800/06-Oct. Port Condition YANKEE is expected to be set 1800/07-Oct (today). Ports will be closed to inbound movements during Port Condition YANKEE unless specific USCG approvals are granted. As of this message, we are unaware of plans for additional port condition settings.

USCG Sector Jacksonville
Port Canaveral: Port Condition X-RAY was set effective 2000/06-Oct. We believe Port Canaveral will follow same (or similar) port condition setting schedule as Jacksonville/Fernandina Beach.
Jacksonville/Fernandina Beach: Port Condition X-RAY was set effective 2000/06-Oct. Port Condition YANKEE is expected to be set 2000/07-Oct. Port Condition ZULU is possible to be set between 0800-2000/08-Oct pending conditions.
NOTE: Next port partner call will be 1130/07-Oct.

USCG Sector Savannah
Brunswick/Savannah: Neither port have set additional port conditions to Port Condition IV.
NOTE: Next call to discuss conditions and operations is scheduled for 1130/07-Oct (today).

USCG Sector Charleston
Port condition remains at Port Condition IV.

(See Port Conditions explanation below the NOAA graphics)

Storm Forecast per NOAA.gov:
At 700 AM CDT (1200 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Milton was located near latitude 21.8 North, longitude 92.2 West. Milton is moving toward the east-southeast near 8 mph (13 km/h). An eastward to east-southeastward motion is forecast through tonight, followed by a turn toward the east and northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday.  On the forecast track, Milton is forecast to move near or just north of the Yucatan Peninsula today and Tuesday, then cross the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula by Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 125 mph (205 km/h) with higher gusts.  Milton is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Further strengthening is expected, and Milton is forecast to become an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane later today and maintain that intensity for the next couple of days. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km).  The estimated minimum central pressure is 945 mb (27.91 inches) based Air Force dropsonde data.

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USCG Port Conditions Explanation


Port Condition IV: This seasonal alert remains in effect from 01 June – 30 November each year (deemed hurricane season for USG & USEC). Vessel and facility operators are encouraged to review their heavy weather contingency plans and make plans to mitigate vessel, facility, and environmental damage.
WHISKEY: A heightened condition in which gale force winds s (39-54 mph / 34-47 knots) are possible within 72 hours. All commercial vessels and barges greater than 500 gross tons and all oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs shall report to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port their intention to depart or remain in port. They shall also complete an application and submit it in writing within 24 hours to the Coast Guard COTP to remain in port.
X-RAY: A readiness condition in which gale force winds (39-54 mph / 34-47 knots) are possible within 48 hours. Vessels more than 500 gross tons and oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs should make preparations to leave the port or have received permission from the Coast Guard COTP to remain in port.
YANKEE: A warning condition in which gale force winds s (39-54 mph / 34-47 knots) are possible within 24 hours. During Port Condition YANKEE all affected ports are under vessel traffic control measures. All vessels greater than 500 gross tons and oceangoing barges and their supporting tugs with permission to remain in port should make their final mooring arrangements.
ZULU: A danger condition in which gale force winds (39-54 mph / 34-47 knots) are possible within 12 hours. In Port Condition ZULU the port is closed and all port operations are suspended except for vessel movements and activities specifically authorized by the Coast Guard COTP

Post-Storm Conditions

If port condition ZULU is set by USCG COTP, ports will remain closed to waterfront activities including vessels/cargo/passenger operations post-storm until passage of sustained gale force winds (39- 54 mph / 34-47 knots) and other specific conditions are met to the satisfaction of USCG COTP. When deemed safe by COTP, the following actions generally will occur post-storm:
– Ports will begin to conduct land/structure assessments in accordance with FSP. FSO will report to USCG which COTP will confer with CBP for readiness.
– USCG will first focus on Search & Rescue and Pollution Prevention matters upon the passing of a storm.
– USCG focus will then be commerce-related and will utilize designated Waterway Survey Teams to conduct preliminary assessments (visual/soundings/sonar) in federal channels and port waterways for aids to navigation, draft restrictions, debris and obstructions.
– USCG COTP will issue official, written authorization and procedures for resuming port operations and vessel movements which is the return of Port Condition IV.