The powerful Hurricane Milton which is charging through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida has had officials urgently calling for residents to vacate— stressing that time was fast running out and the odds of survival were bleak for individuals determined to stay.
As of Wednesday morning, Hurricane Milton has been pegged at a Category 4 status after spending much of Tuesday as a Category 5 storm. Now, it is threatening the Tampa Bay area with a population of over 3.3 million people.
Thus area has managed to evade a direct hit from a major hurricane for over 100 years but now with rain falling in some parts of the state and winds expected to reach terrifying levels, Milton is menacing already battered communities still recovering from when deadly Hurricane Helene came ashore only two weeks ago.
In the Tampa Bay area, counties are using several means of communication to encourage people to leave vulnerable areas. Already, millions have been ordered to evacuate the area.
By early Wednesday, the normally busy interstate leading into downtown Tampa was reported to be free of vehicles and the few cars seen moved on side streets.
The National Hurricane Center forecasters have warned that Milton is “expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane” when it reaches Florida’s coast.
Hurricane Milton’s Arrival and Strength
Milton is expected to arrive on Florida’s Gulf Coast late on Wednesday.
Governor Ron DeSantis had at a Wednesday press briefing, said, “We are bracing and prepared to receive a major hit.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the storm was said to be about 190 miles (305 kilometers) southwest of Tampa with sustained winds of 145 mph (230 kph).
The storm is expected to retain its hurricane strength as it crosses central Florida on Thursday toward the Atlantic Ocean.
President Joe Biden given a dire warning saying that it “could be one of the worst storms in 100 years to hit Florida.”
Damages Expected
Florida’s Gulf Coast is highly unsafe to storm surge. Hurricane Helene came ashore about 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of Tampa in the Florida Panhandle and yet it managed to cause drowning deaths in the Tampa area due to storm urges that were about 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.5 meters) above normal tide levels.
With Milton however, forecasters have warned of a possible 8- to 12-foot (2- to 3.5-meter) storm surge in Tampa Bay.
Milton is forecast to cross central Florida and assault as much as 18 inches (46 centimeters) of rain while heading toward the Atlantic Ocean, according to the prediction of the hurricane center.
