Hurricane Milton rapidly strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane two days before making landfall in Florida.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said the storm had become a Category 4 hurricane sooner than originally expected, and released an updated forecast on Monday.
Meanwhile, just two weeks after Hurricane Helen brought more than 200 deaths and devastation from Florida to the Appalachian Mountains, the state is heading toward population centers such as Tampa and Orlando, and the state is Preparations are underway for what could be the largest evacuation in seven years.
The storm moved through the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, recording maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (249 kph) and solidifying its status as a major hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Although fluctuations in intensity are expected, the National Weather Service announced Monday afternoon that Milton is expected to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane until it makes landfall in Florida.
Even if the storm weakens somewhat before landfall (expected Wednesday or early Thursday), storm surge levels – where Gulf waters are pushed inland by an approaching hurricane – will be in the maximum category reached, forecasters said. warned.
Milton is likely to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday and remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean. This course marks the 10th major hurricane of Category 3 or higher to make landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast since 2017.
Milton is now the third fastest-intensifying storm on record in the Atlantic Ocean, according to CNN meteorologists. Milton’s wind speeds increased by 90 miles per hour within 24 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center and forecasters, but only two hurricanes have stronger than that in 24 hours: Wilma in 2005 and Felix in 2007. That’s what it means.
Experts attribute the frequency of such powerful and destructive storms to the climate crisis, fueled in part by the burning of fossil fuels.
Bill McKibben, a distinguished Schumann scholar of environmental studies at Middlebury College and co-founder of 350.org, wrote in a post on Twitter/X that “22 hours ago Milton was a tropical storm. ”, but as of Monday, it had become a tropical cyclone, he wrote. Cat 5 Hurricane”.
“This is what happens on a superheated Earth,” he said.
Weather officials announced Monday morning that Milton is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding, life-threatening storm surge and high winds. They also say it is likely to remain strong for several days after reaching its peak.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday that he still doesn’t know exactly where Milton will strike, but it’s clear the state will be hit hard.
“I don’t think there’s a scenario right now that wouldn’t have a major impact,” he said.
“We have all day today, all day Monday, and probably all day Tuesday to prepare, to make sure that our hurricane preparedness plans are in place,” DeSantis said. “If you’re on the west coast of Florida, on the barrier islands, expect to be evicted.”
Milton’s status as a hurricane marks the first time since September that three hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic at the same time, said Colorado State University hurricane scientist Phil Klotzbach. Four hurricanes occurred simultaneously in August and September.
The St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay areas are still cleaning up the extensive damage caused by Helen and its powerful storm surge. At least 12 people died in Pinellas County, which includes St. Petersburg, as a result of Helen.
In late September, Helen flooded parts of Florida’s west coast, with the worst damage occurring along a narrow 20-mile (32 km) chain of barrier islands that stretches from St. Petersburg to Clearwater.
Storm surge levels of 8 to 12 feet above ground level are possible in Pinellas County as well as nearby counties, including Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota, this week, the National Weather Service announced Monday.
Weather officials forecast 5 to 10 inches of precipitation in parts of the Florida peninsula and Keys through Wednesday night, with localized totals up to 15 inches, leading to significant flash flooding, urban and regional It added that there was a risk of flooding. , with the potential for moderate to major river flooding.
DeSantis expanded the state of emergency to 51 counties and said Floridians should be prepared to travel and have a week’s worth of food and water in case of further power outages and disruptions.
On Monday, Joe Biden approved a state of emergency declaration for Florida and ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts due to the Hurricane Milton emergency.
Florida officials say they are preparing for the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017.
They asked people who live in homes built after Florida tightened regulations in 2004, don’t rely on constant electricity, and aren’t in evacuation zones to avoid roads.
Some parts of Florida, including Charlotte, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, have already issued mandatory evacuation orders for portions of their counties, and more are expected to do so on Monday.
Orlando International Airport announced Monday that it would suspend operations Wednesday morning in advance of Hurricane Milton and will resume operations as soon as it is safe to do so again.
Tampa International Airport announced it would suspend flight operations starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday. St. Pete Clearwater International Airport in Pinellas County also announced Monday that it would close after the last flight on Tuesday and remain closed Wednesday and Thursday.
“The airport is within a mandatory evacuation zone and is not a public shelter,” a statement from St. Pete Clearwater International Airport said. “Please be prepared and stay safe.”
On Florida’s east coast, officials are warning of major flooding, power outages, hurricane-force wind gusts and total rainfall of 6 to 8 inches.
In some areas of Florida where Milton is expected to arrive, some schools and universities have announced that they will be closed until Wednesday and Thursday of this week in anticipation of Milton’s arrival.
As of Monday morning, hurricane watches, flood watches, and storm surge watches were in effect for parts of the Gulf of Mexico and the west coast of Florida. The National Weather Service also issued a flood watch for all counties in central Florida and warned that all beaches on central Florida’s Atlantic coast are at high risk for rip currents.
“Milton will be a historic storm for the West Coast of Florida,” the National Weather Service said Monday.
Tampa city officials have opened all of the city’s garages free of charge to residents who want to protect their cars, including electric cars, from flooding.
DeSantis said as many as 4,000 National Guard troops were helping state workers remove debris, adding that he had directed Florida troops sent to North Carolina in the aftermath of Helen to return to prepare for Milton.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
