Tropical Storm Intensifies into Category 4 as Florida Prepares for Effects.
This satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration taken at 11:36pm ET on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, shows Hurricane Milton. (NOAA via AP) |
Category 4 hurricane Milton rapidly intensified and approached the Florida Gulf Coast, sustaining winds to reach 150 mph as it threatens serious impacts along an already battered stretch of the Gulf Coast. Just a week ago, the region was ripped by Hurricane Helene; today, millions of Florida residents prepared for evacuations as Milton takes its aim at the Tampa Bay region for expected landfall by Wednesday night.
Florida Prepares for Evacuations
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and state Director of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie on Monday issued a call to action to residents in the Tampa Bay area: take the evacuation warnings seriously. "Drowning deaths due to storm surge are 100% preventable if you leave," Guthrie said, encouraging people to evacuate ahead of time.
But as of last Monday, 51 counties in Florida had already been placed under a state of emergency. The federal agency has also requested FEMA for its support ahead of the hurricane's landfall.
Federal Response and Warnings
In a Sunday statement, the White House confirmed that it has briefed President Biden on the potential impact of Hurricane Milton. With relief efforts starting along the Gulf Coast, FEMA is mobilizing and deploying resources along with all the other municipalities impacted by the storm.
The NHC has given warnings for the hurricane on the Mexican coast and for the Florida Peninsula. It is advising the people of the Florida Keys, the northwestern Bahamas, and the Florida Gulf Coast to watch out closely for the situation.
Hurricane Milton current track and latest situation
On Monday, Hurricane Milton stood 150 miles west of Progreso in Mexico and 735 miles southwest of Tampa in Florida. It was moving in the direction of east-southeast at 8 mph with a maximum sustained speed of 150 mph.
The NHC warns that an "increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds" may reach the west coast of Florida by Tuesday night or early Wednesday. Locally, totals could reach as high as 15 inches of rain, resulting in extreme flooding across the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys.
Rainfall and Flooding Risks
Heavy rain will be expected; amounts of rain are anticipated to be between 5 and 10 inches over many areas, causing the potential of flash flooding, urban flooding, and perhaps even major river flooding, especially in areas already saturated from the recent storms.
Hurricane Kirk Update
4pm CDT Oct 6th Key Messages for #Hurricane #Milton:
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 6, 2024
Forecast to be a major hurricane when it reaches W coast of #Florida Peninsula this week. Too soon to specify magnitude & locations of greatest impacts, but risk of life-threatening storm surge & damaging winds increasing.… pic.twitter.com/clGNT0ff6Y
Although Hurricane Milton is a threat, Hurricane Kirk is weakening to a Category 1 storm. As of Monday morning, Kirk was approximately 765 miles from the Azores with sustained winds of 75 mph. No coastal warnings are issued on Hurricane Kirk.
Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Milton hits within days of Hurricane Helene, which had wrought havoc along the Big Bend region of Florida. Helene had caused above 200 deaths and the basic infrastructure of the state comprehensively mangled. After being shell-shocked with Helene, Florida's emergency services are prepared to face another big storm in the form of Hurricane Milton. Power outages are once again causing problems for more than 350,000 residents as the state gets ready to face Hurricane Milton.