Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified Monday morning, strengthening from a Category 4 to a dangerous Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of around 180 mph as it took aim at Florida’s Gulf Coast, which is still reeling from Helene’s record-breaking landfall just over a week ago.
“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida,” the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. ET update.
Millions are facing the prospect of evacuation as Milton gains steam along its path toward the Tampa Bay area, where it is expected to make landfall Wednesday evening. If it remains on its current path, Milton could be the worst storm to hit the Tampa area in over 100 years.
The hurricane is one of only 40 hurricanes on record that have escalated to a Category 5 level in the Atlantic, and one of seven hurricanes to have gone from a Category 1 classification to a Category 5 in 24 hours or less. Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency described Milton as the third-fastest-growing storm on record in the Atlantic, following Hurricanes Wilma (2005) and Felix (2007), during a call with reporters Monday afternoon.
Speaking at a press conference Monday alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state’s director of emergency management, Kevin Guthrie, urged those in the Tampa Bay area to evacuate.
“I beg you. I implore you,” Guthrie said. “Drowning deaths due to storm surge are 100% preventable if you leave.”
DeSantis said Monday that 51 counties in Florida are now under a state of emergency. President Biden declared a state of emergency in Florida on Monday, ordering federal assistance to help supplement state and local efforts responding to Hurricane Milton.
The Mexican government issued a hurricane watch for the coast of Mexico from Celestún to Cabo Catoche, and a tropical storm warning from Celestún to Cancún, according to the National Hurricane Center. Those in the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys and the northwestern Bahamas are also being urged to monitor the hurricane’s progress.
Where is Hurricane Milton and what is its path?
As of 5 p.m. ET Monday:
Milton was located around 80 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico.
It was about 675 miles southwest of Tampa.
The storm had maximum sustained winds of 180 mph.
The storm was moving east-southeast at 10 mph.
A map showing the probable path of Hurricane Milton.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The NHC warned Monday morning of “an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning Tuesday night or early Wednesday.”
“Residents in that area should follow any advice given by local officials and evacuate if told to do so,” the hurricane center said.
Portions of the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys can expect rainfall of 5 to 10 inches, with localized totals up to 15 inches through Wednesday night. Such rainfall brings “the risk of considerable flash, urban and areal flooding, along with the potential for moderate to major river flooding,” meteorologists said.
Meanwhile, portions of the northern Yucatán Peninsula can expect 2 to 4 inches of rainfall.
Warnings and evacuations
As of 5 p.m. ET Monday, a hurricane warning is in effect for:
Celestún to Rio Lagartos, Mexico
Florida’s west coast, from Bonita Beach to Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay
A “hurricane warning” means hurricane conditions are expected within the area. Precautions and preparation for people and property should be completed.
A hurricane watch is in effect for:
Florida’s west coast, from Chokoloskee to south of Bonita Beach
Florida’s east coast, from St. Lucie/Indian River County Line north to St. Marys River
Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche
Campeche to the south of Celestún
Dry Tortugas
Lake Okeechobee
A “hurricane watch” means hurricane conditions are possible within the areas and is usually issued 48 hours before the hurricane is anticipated to hit.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for:
Rio Lagartos to Cancún
All of the Florida Keys
Florida’s Gulf Coast, from Flamingo to south of Chokoloskee
Florida’s Gulf Coast, from Suwannee River to Indian Pass
A "tropical storm warning" means tropical storm conditions are expected in the areas within the next 36 hours.
A tropical storm watch is in effect for:
East coast of Florida Peninsula, south of St. Lucie/Indian River County Line south to Flamingo
Coast of Georgia and South Carolina, north of St. Marys River to South Santee River in South Carolina
A “tropical storm watch” means tropical storm conditions are possible in the areas within the next 48 hours.
A storm surge warning is in effect for:
The west coast of Florida from Flamingo to Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor
A "storm surge warning" means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation during the next 36 hours.
A storm surge watch is in effect for:
Sebastian Inlet, Fla., to Edisto Beach, S.C., including St. Johns River
A “storm surge watch” means there’s a possibility of life-threatening flooding.
As of Monday morning, the Florida Division of Emergency Management had ordered evacuations for six Florida counties along the state’s west coast.
During a press conference Monday morning, DeSantis urged residents to follow orders but stressed they do not have to travel far to be safe.
“You don’t have to evacuate hundreds of miles,” he said. “If you’re in areas that are susceptible to storm surge, you go to areas that are not susceptible to that. Every county has places within them where you can go. Maybe it’s a friend’s house, maybe it’s a hotel, maybe it’s a shelter.”
Mandatory evacuations are in effect for:
Charlotte County, especially in zones on the water along the Gulf, Charlotte Harbor and the Myakka and Peace rivers
Hillsborough County
Pasco County, especially those living in low-lying areas or manufactured homes, mobile homes or RVs
Pinellas County and its residential health care facilities across three specific county zones
Voluntary evacuations are in effect for:
Manatee County and Sarasota County, where residents are being told to start implementing evacuation plans — whether it’s staying with a friend or family member on higher ground or completely leaving the area
To figure out whether you live in an evacuation zone, click here.
Milton comes days after Helene
Hurricane Milton comes just over a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a monstrous Category 4 storm, causing at least 20 deaths in Florida alone.
During a press call Monday afternoon, FEMA noted that the organization will not be diverting any personnel already working in areas affected by Hurricane Helene to Milton’s path just yet.
After making landfall with 140 mph winds, Helene moved inland across the Southeast, leaving more than 200 people dead and widespread destruction in its wake. Following the storm, Florida’s infrastructure and emergency services have been stretched thin.
Read more from Yahoo News: Helene shows that hurricanes in the age of climate change don’t wreck just coastlines
Active hurricane season
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, but the peak of heightened activity is usually from August through October. According to NOAA, a “typical” hurricane season in the Atlantic will usually see around 14 named storms, “of which seven become hurricanes and three become major hurricanes.”
As of early October, eight hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic — with Milton becoming the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. As CNN notes, hurricane season is running ahead of the expected schedule. Typically, the 13th storm of the season wouldn’t hit until at least Oct. 25.
Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned that FEMA did not have the funds to make it through the season. President Biden said last week that Congress may need to pass a supplemental spending bill in the next couple of months to help fund states’ recovery efforts.
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