Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 5 storm, is set to make landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday, 9 October 2024. With maximum sustained winds of 290 km/h and gusts over 320 km/h, Florida authorities have issued widespread evacuation orders in preparation for the storm’s impact.
Story Summary:
- Hurricane Milton is currently a Category 5 storm with winds of up to 290 km/h and is expected to hit Florida on 9 October 2024.
- Evacuation orders have been issued for residents of Tampa Bay and other high-risk areas along the Gulf Coast, with concerns over extreme storm surges and flooding.
- Federal support has been mobilised as Florida prepares for the storm, which is expected to impact millions of people.
What we know about Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, becoming one of the strongest hurricanes on record in the region.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds have reached 290 km/h, with gusts over 320 km/h, according to meteorologist Noah Bergren, who described the storm’s strength as “astronomical.”
Milton’s central pressure is recorded at 897 mb, making it the fourth strongest hurricane ever in the Western Hemisphere by pressure.
Milton is predicted to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast, near the Tampa Bay area, which has not experienced a direct hit from a major hurricane in over a century.
As the storm moves inland, it may weaken slightly but is still expected to retain hurricane strength as it crosses Florida and heads toward the Atlantic.
Florida residents evacuated amid major storm surge
As Milton approaches, evacuation orders have been issued across Florida’s west coast, with special attention to the Tampa Bay area. According to reports, Governor Ron DeSantis has warned residents to heed the orders, citing a potential storm surge of 2.4 to 3.6 metres in some areas—double the levels caused by Hurricane Helene just two weeks ago.
In preparation for Milton’s impact, more than 300 vehicles were deployed on Sunday to clear debris left behind by Helene, preventing it from becoming dangerous projectiles in the incoming storm.
Local authorities have also converted schools into emergency shelters, and President Joe Biden has approved an emergency declaration, mobilising 7,000 federal workers to assist with evacuations and emergency responses.
Many residents have already begun evacuating, leading to significant traffic congestion on major highways.
However, some residents, still recovering from the devastation of Helene, remain reluctant to leave.
Candice Briggs, who evacuated from Seminole with her family, said:
“Most of the tears I’ve cried have been out of exhaustion or gratitude. But I am overwhelmed and I am exhausted.”