Hurricane Milton approaches Florida
U.S. authorities are warning of the potentially life-threatening effects of Hurricane Milton as it hurtles towards the coast of Florida.
Milton is one of the most powerful storms to form in the North Atlantic in recent years.
This was just two weeks after Hurricane Helen caused extensive damage across the United States.
The storm is expected to hit on Wednesday.
When will Hurricane Milton hit Florida?
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Milton is expected to make landfall in the U.S. state of Florida on Wednesday night local time as an “extremely dangerous hurricane.”
It could occur near the city of Tampa. The greater Tampa metropolitan area has a population of more than 3 million people.
Forecasters are warning of the possibility of heavy rain, flash flooding, strong winds and storm surge as water moves inland from the coast.
They say Milton could be the worst storm to hit the region in 100 years, with heights of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) and local rainfall of up to 1.5 feet. It is possible that it will be reached.
Where is Hurricane Milton? What is its path?
Milton became a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday, moving steadily eastward through the Gulf of Mexico after passing over Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
BBC weather presenter Chris Foulkes said explosive winds had developed within 24 hours, reaching sustained gusts of up to 200mph (321km/h).
Although their strength varied, they fell into five categories, the most powerful hurricanes.
The hurricane weakened Tuesday, returning to Category 5 status, but officials warned it could double in size before hitting Florida on Wednesday.
The center of the hurricane is expected to pass through central and central Florida, with major storm surge expected along the state’s coast before landfall.
The NHC said in an update Tuesday night that forecasters had made a slight change in course as the hurricane “wobbled” southward. Forecasters say even the most accurate forecasts are typically off by about 60 miles (100 kilometers) if a storm takes 36 hours to arrive.
Milton will then cross the peninsula before reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
Where is the evacuation zone for Hurricane Milton?
Gov. Ron DeSantis has warned that a “monster” is on the way, and Floridians are being asked to prepare for the state’s largest evacuation effort in years.
Official states of emergency have been declared in most counties, and evacuations have been ordered up and down Florida’s west coast.
Disaster management authorities issued a list of evacuation orders and maps.
Several large-scale evacuation centers have also been set up as a last resort for stranded people.
Airports in Milton’s expected route have announced closures and lines of cars are being observed as people begin leaving their homes.
Major setback as Florida prepares for Hurricane Milton
What is a hurricane? And how do they form?
A hurricane (also known as a cyclone or typhoon) is a type of tropical cyclone that forms in the North Atlantic Ocean. It brings strong winds and heavy rain.
When ocean air is warm and moist, it rises and then begins to cool. This causes clouds to form.
In some cases, this updraft can move away from the hurricane’s crest faster than it can be replaced at the surface, reducing surface pressure.
The drop in pressure increases the volume of air, which accelerates the winds and sucks in air as the hurricane strengthens.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (Noaa) has predicted that the 2024 hurricane season will be more active than previous years. Rising average sea surface temperatures due to anthropogenic climate change are contributing factors, the report said.
What is a Category 5 hurricane?
Noaa considers Category 5 hurricanes to be “catastrophic.”
Wind speeds can exceed 155 mph (249 km/h) and cause “very severe and widespread damage.”
U.S. government agencies are calling for “massive evacuations” of residential areas near the coastline, as a Category 5 hurricane could also bring storm surges more than 18 feet (5 meters) high and destroy many homes. There is.
Trees and power lines may fall, stranding residential areas and causing long-term power outages. Noah said affected areas could be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
Which was the worst Category 5 in the US?
According to Noaa’s database, since 1924, at least 40 storms in the Atlantic have reached Category 5 status, but only four have actually made landfall at that strength. Some of the most harmful ones are listed below.
hurricane camille
Camille crashed in Mississippi in 1969, causing a storm surge of up to 24 feet and destroying nearly everything along the coast.
259 people died, mainly in Virginia, and damage amounted to approximately $1.4 billion (£1.06 billion).
hurricane andrew
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew devastated southern Florida with maximum winds of 165 mph and gusts of 174 mph.
The incident directly claimed the lives of 26 people and is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of dozens of others. At the time, it was considered the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, with damage estimated at $30 billion.
hurricane michael
Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida in 2018 with wind speeds of 160 miles per hour, making it the strongest storm to make landfall in the Sunshine State.
The storm killed at least 74 people (59 in the United States and 15 in Central America), and Michael caused an estimated $25.1 billion in damage.
Low category storm
Milton struck less than two weeks after Hurricane Helen, which hit the United States as a Category 4 storm, killing more than 200 people and making it the worst hurricane to hit the continental United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Ta.
