As Florida braces for the impact of Category 5 Hurricane Milton, the state’s Gulf Coast is racing against the clock to clear the debris left behind by Hurricane Helene occured just two weeks ago. Highways are packed with evacuees, trying to escape the approaching storm.
Expected to make landfall on Wednesday, Milton could strike the Tampa Bay area, a region that hasn’t experienced a direct hit from a major hurricane in over a century. Although forecasters predict the storm might weaken slightly before reaching the coast, it’s still expected to bring massive storm and huge flooding. Predictions suggest that Tampa Bay could experience a storm surge of around 12 feet, that is almost the double what was recorded during Hurricane Helene.
Milton, now boasting winds of up to 180 mph, is approaching rapidly, and the National Hurricane Center warns of widespread flooding. Rainfall between 5 to 15 inches is expected in many parts of the state, including the Florida Keys.The situation in Tampa is particularly alarming due to its large and exposed population of over 3 million, many of whom are inexperienced in dealing with storms of this magnitude. “Tampa is the most vulnerable,” said meteorologist Kerry Emanuel from MIT, highlighting the dangers the city can face. Tampa’s Mayor Jane Castor warned the residents of the storm’s strength. She said “This is serious. Milton isn’t one to mess with.’’ Governor Ron DeSantis echoed her concern, stressing the urgency of removing debris from Helene before Milton’s winds turn them into dangerous projectiles. President Biden has also declared Hurricane Milton as an emergency for Florida, activating 7,000 federal workers in what is being described as one of the largest mobilizations in U.S. history.
Despite evacuation orders, some residents are hesitant to leave, recalling the chaos of Hurricane Irma in 2017. For many, the exhaustion from repeated storms is taking its toll. Families like Candice Briggs’, who just survived Helene’s wrath, find themselves evacuating again, still recovering from their previous ordeal. On the other side of the Gulf, Mexico’s Yucatan state is also bracing for the storm, with evacuations underway in vulnerable areas like Holbox Island.
Milton’s rapid intensification—its wind speeds rising 92 mph in just 24 hours—has left meteorologists puzzled. Similar to 2005’s Hurricane Wilma, its “pinhole eye” is partly responsible for its explosive growth. Experts believe that Milton could soon undergo an “eye wall replacement cycle,” which might reduce its wind speeds but expand the storm’s size.As Milton barrels toward land, residents of Florida and Mexico are preparing for what could be one of the most powerful storms in recent memory.
With memories of Hurricane Michael in 2018 still fresh, authorities are urging everyone to take evacuation orders seriously. In Florida, schools are being converted into shelters, airports in Tampa and Orlando are shutting down, and Disney World is monitoring the situation closely. Meanwhile, in Mexico, nonessential services have been suspended, and evacuation plans are in full swing. The relentless storm activity is drawing comparisons to the brutal hurricane season of 2004, when five storms hit Florida in six weeks. Milton, coming on the heels of Helene, adds to a growing list of hurricanes that have battered the state this year, making it a season to remember—and fear.
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