Meteorologist Dan Smith

Friendly reminder that I post more often over on Bluesky these days... no algorithm gods to appease is a big plus. bsky.app/profile/dansmi…

Rain for most, and a glaze of ice possible the farther northwest you go through the evening. @DanSmithWeather has the latest.

We're issuing a First Alert Weather Day for late Wednesday through Thursday morning. Winds have ramped up even more, peaking near 45 mph both Wednesday (from the SW) and Thursday (from the NW). Windchill near zero Thursday AM, along with quick bursts of snow reducing visibility.

Chilly winds combining with wet snow Thursday morning has prompted a First Alert Weather Day to be issued. While snow *amounts* will be fairly low (a little over 1" on the grass), the *rate* during the AM commute will likely reduce visibility and could lead to slick spots.

Tropical Storm Rafael has now formed between Cuba and Colombia, expected to make landfall in western Cuba as a Category 2 storm early Wednesday. Unlike Helene/Milton, the Gulf does NOT look to help Rafael intensify before a TX/LA landfall late this weekend.

Here were some of our top wind gusts on this Halloween, with Toledo Express' coming in the middle of trick-or-treating! 🎃💨

A seasonably sunny weekend, then things get warm, windy, and rainy at times next week. @DanSmithWeather has the latest.

@Steve_Dangle @sdpnsports No question, just vibes. Great job hosting the Q&A (and hundreds of us) at the HHOF tonight!

LFR TOOOONIGHT!!! LFR QUESTIONS??

FORECAST HIGHS: While morning lows will still get some frost forming just before dawn Friday/Saturday, the warming trend continues a few degrees at a time through early next week.

BREAKING: Freeze Warnings are in effect for portions of the viewing area for Wednesday morning. It will be even colder Thursday morning.

FIRST ALERT: Storms are approaching this evening, and we're expecting rounds of them throughout the night. Heavy rain is possible, especially north of US-6.

Saturday morning and afternoon are looking dry, the rain shouldn't arrive until the evening. Waves of showers and storms are likely Saturday night, and there could be some heavy downpours. Then, just a brief shower or two is possible Sunday with a NW breeze gusting up to 35 mph.

A LOOK BACK: Here's how Milton became the fastest Atlantic hurricane on record to go from a depression to a Category 5 (in 49 hours). 🌀⏩

Beautiful tribute from @NOAA_HurrHunter who earlier this evening honored longtime radar scientist and researcher Peter Dodge who passed away in March 2023. His ashes were dropped in the eye of Category 5 Milton tonight – PETER DODGE HX SCI (1950-2023) 387TH PENNY

5pm update: As expected, Milton has regained Category 5 strength thanks to its "eyewall replacement". It's still slated to come back down to a borderline Cat 3/4, with offshore wind shear reducing its power before making landfall near Tampa late Wednesday/early Thursday.

For God's sakes, don't tell me to "do research" on weather. I'm a meteorologist. My literal job is to research the weather.

Milton nears the record strongest hurricane... just 10 mph shy of tying the wind speeds recorded with Allen in 1980.

@MattLochonTV @10TampaBay You picked one heck of a first week!

🚨 CAREER UPDATE 🚨 Just over 1 year ago I walked out of the WNDU newsroom, not knowing what my future would be in this industry. After taking some time away, I’m back where I belong. Today is my first day as the new morning editor/photog for @10TampaBay!

A jaw-dropping, high resolution view of Hurricane Milton's powerful, small eye. This 30-second imagery from GOES-19 is preliminary and non-operational.

An extraordinary amount of lightning within Hurricane Milton's eye wall this morning. Milton is now a powerful, Category 4 storm.