US authorities have issued warnings about the life-threatening dangers of Hurricane Milton, which escalated to a category five before weakening to a category four as it advances towards Florida.
Milton continues to unleash powerful winds reaching 155 mph (250 km/h) as it skirts the northern boundary of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has predicted “potentially catastrophic” storm surges in coastal regions.
Tampa Bay, a densely populated area, is bracing for the storm’s impact by Wednesday, coming less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene struck the state.
Officials are gearing up for the largest evacuation effort in Florida’s recent history. Governor Ron DeSantis has emphasized the urgency of evacuating soon.
DeSantis described the hurricane as a potential “monster” during a Monday press conference, highlighting its brief upgrade to a category five storm.
Warnings about Hurricane Milton come just 10 days after Hurricane Helene — the deadliest mainland storm since Katrina in 2005 — devastated the southeastern US, claiming the lives of at least 225 people, with hundreds more missing.
Florida reported 14 deaths from Helene, and now 51 of 67 counties face emergency alerts as Milton draws near.
“Tragically, some of those affected by Helene are now in Milton’s path,” DeSantis stated.
Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service (NWS), noted that Milton reached category five at an unprecedented pace, with wind speeds increasing by 80 knots (148 km/h) within 24 hours. “That’s the third highest we have on record,” he said.
Hurricanes are categorized from one to five, with categories three and above classified as major due to their severe threat to life and property, as the NWS explains.
Hurricane Milton is forecast to weaken to a category three by the time it makes landfall near Tampa Bay on Wednesday night or early Thursday.
The National Hurricane Center has also warned of heavy rainfall and potential flash floods in parts of Florida starting late Monday.
It has also noted the risk of life-threatening surges and destructive winds along Florida’s west coast from late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
Rainfall may reach up to 15 inches (38 cm), with coastal regions possibly experiencing storm surges of 10-15 feet (3-4.5 m).
Evacuation orders were issued on Monday, and road tolls were lifted in western and central Florida to facilitate movement.
Long lines have formed at gas stations in southern Florida, some of which have run out of fuel.
Traffic has significantly increased in some regions, with congestion up to 90% over normal levels, according to DeSantis. School closures across several counties will begin on Tuesday.
Keith Turi of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) expressed optimism about the ongoing evacuation efforts, calling them a positive indicator.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has prompted US officials to warn that cleanup could extend over years.
More than 12,000 cubic yards of debris have been cleared from Helene-affected regions in Florida within two days, according to official reports. Debris removal efforts will persist as long as conditions are safe, DeSantis declared.
Numerous roads remain blocked, complicating the delivery of aid to the worst-hit areas.
Helene made landfall in late September as a category four hurricane, causing extensive damage, flash flooding, and widespread power outages.
Fatalities were also reported in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and particularly in North Carolina, the hardest-hit state.
President Biden has dispatched an additional 500 troops to aid in North Carolina, bringing the total to 1,500. These soldiers are joining thousands of other government and National Guard personnel in relief efforts.