While the GPM Core Observatory’s instruments show exceptional detail in Milton’s rainfall structure in several overpasses throughout the week, the IMERG global multi-satellite product provides a broader overview of precipitation along Milton’s track as a continuous picture from development through landfall. 

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The above animation shows IMERG precipitation rates (in blue/yellow shading) and accumulations (in green/purple shading) from Oct. 5-10, 2024. Cloudiness is shown in shades of white/gray using infrared geosynchronous satellite data. While Milton was intensifying over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico from Oct. 5-9, a surface low pressure area developed in the eastern Gulf near southern Florida and led to a predecessor-like rain event delivering heavy rainfall over a several-day period.

The animation pauses on Oct. 8, 8:00 p.m. EDT (Oct. 9, 0000 UTC) to show that accumulations over southern Florida from this rain event had already exceeded 6 inches in some areas (light purple colors) - totals which were confirmed by NOAA ground radar observations. At this point in Milton’s track, the storm was still at Category 5 strength as it began to turn northeastward over the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Later on Oct. 9 from 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET (1630-1930 UTC) the intense rain bands that preceded Milton’s landfall can be seen here in the IMERG data moving quickly across central and southern Florida, adding to the accumulations from earlier in the week. By the time Milton made landfall at 8:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 9 (0030 UTC on Oct. 10), central Florida north of the Tampa-Orlando corridor was seeing heavy rainfall from Milton’s main rain shield. As Milton passed over Florida, accumulations north of the Tampa-Orlando corridor would exceed 10 inches in some locations (dark purple colors). The NWS estimated similar totals from rain gauges in the area, with some isolated gauges reporting totals over 12 inches.