Hurricane Milton Is A Category 4 Headed Toward Florida—Here's ...

7 Oct 2024

Forbes

Topline

Hurricane Milton intensified into a Category 4 Hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico early Monday as it barreled toward the Florida Gulf coast, less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene left devastating flooding across parts of the southeastern U.S.

Hurricane Milton formed over the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday.

NOAA Key Facts

According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton had maximum sustained wind speeds of 150 mph as of 9 a.m. EDT, qualifying it as a Category 4.

The NHC’s earlier forecasts suggested Milton would make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained wind speeds of around 120 mph on Wednesday.

The storm was about 730 miles west-southwest of Tampa as of Monday morning.

Hurricane watches are in effect for parts of Mexico as well as the Florida Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee, about 90 miles south of Fort Meyers, to the mouth of the Suwanee River, including Tampa Bay.

Tropical storm warnings cover much of the same area in Florida, with the addition of the Florida Keys, and a storm surge warning is in effect near Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay.

The storm is expected to bring 5 to 10 inches of rain, with localized totals up to 15 inches, across parts of the Florida Peninsula and the Keys through Wednesday night, which could cause "considerable flash, urban, and areal flooding," according to the NHC.

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Crucial Quote

“If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday.

What Impacts Did Helene Have On Tampa Bay?

Hurricane Helene was the hardest hit for the Tampa Bay area from a hurricane in 103 years, according to the Associated Press. Despite staying offshore, Helene inundated parts of the area with several feet of storm surge. Twelve people died in the Tampa area due to the surge, AP reported.

Surprising Fact

Milton will be the fifth hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. this year, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts 2024 will be one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record, estimating 8-13 hurricanes, including 4-7 major hurricanes.

Tangent

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday declared a state of emergency for 35 counties, including all in the Tampa Bay area.

How Many People Will Be Evacuated?

DeSantis said Sunday evening a “flurry” of evacuation orders will be issued over the next 24 hours. “I don’t think there’s any scenario where we don’t have major impacts at this point,” DeSantis said, adding that people have “all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday” to ensure they have a hurricane preparedness plan in place. According to the Associated Press, Milton could trigger the biggest spate of evacuation orders in the state since 2017’s Hurricane Irma—where 7 million people were urged to leave their homes.

Key Background

Milton is expected to arrive less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene, a major Category 4 storm, hit Florida on Sept. 26 and traveled 500 miles across the Southeastern U.S., causing heavy flooding in the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee. At least 230 people across six states died as a result of the hurricane, which was the deadliest to hit the continental U.S. since Katrina in 2005. Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, approximately 160 miles north of Tampa, with winds of 140 mph before it was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved northward.