Florida is bracing for Hurricane Milton. State officials have already issued evacuation orders. The governor has declared a state of emergency. This storm comes as southeastern U.S. states are still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that Hurricane Milton is set to make landfall on Florida’s west coast. This is expected by midweek. Significant impacts are expected.
Timeline for Hurricane Milton’s Arrival
Hurricane Milton is expected to reach the Florida Peninsula soon. The NHC expects it to arrive as early as late October 8. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center also anticipates its arrival by early October 9. The NHC warns that heavy rainfall will start affecting Florida by Monday (October 7). The rain will continue through Tuesday. It will extend into Wednesday evening. These conditions are expected to cause widespread flash flooding, urban flooding, and river flooding.
Areas Expected to Be Affected
Several areas of Florida are under weather watches and warnings as Hurricane Milton intensifies. Key areas along the Gulf Coast, including Tampa Bay and the Dry Tortugas, have been issued hurricane watches. Other regions, such as Flamingo to the Suwannee River and Tampa Bay, are under storm surge watches. This signals the likelihood of dangerous water levels rising 2 to 4 feet above normal ground level.
The NHC forecasts that water levels could reach up to 12 feet in some areas. This happens if the storm surge coincides with high tide. The following areas are expected to face significant storm surge:
- Tampa Bay: 8 to 12 feet
- Charlotte Harbor: 5 to 10 feet
- Anclote River to Englewood: 8 to 12 feet
- Yankeetown to Anclote River: 5 to 10 feet
Evacuation Orders and Emergency Declarations
Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency. This decision is in response to the increasing threat of Hurricane Milton. The state of emergency now includes 51 counties, up from the initial 35. The state of emergency includes major counties such as Hillsborough, Pinellas, Miami-Dade, and Lee, among others. Officials urge residents to adhere to evacuation orders and seek shelter immediately.
Kevin Guthrie, the director of Florida’s emergency management division, has warned civilians to prepare for a widespread evacuation. He emphasized that this could be the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017. He stated, “I highly encourage you to evacuate.”
Pinellas County has already begun evacuating 6,600 patients from hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. School closures in the region are also in effect from Monday through Wednesday to ensure public safety.
Residents are urged to stay informed through the NHC’s updates. Hurricane Milton is rapidly intensifying in the Southern Gulf of Mexico. The NHC stresses that individuals should adhere to local officials’ evacuation instructions and monitor the hurricane’s progress.
Areas like the northern Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico are expected to experience tropical storm and hurricane conditions. Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is forecasted for those regions. Both tropical storm and hurricane watches are in place there.
Hurricane Milton’s Potential Impact and Preparedness
Florida is already grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and the upcoming storm could further strain recovery efforts. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch expressed concern, noting that the region is still dealing with the long-term effects of Helene. “We already will be rebuilding for years because of Hurricane Helene,” said Welch. “The impacts of this storm will exacerbate that.”
During a press conference, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell confirmed that FEMA is prepared for Hurricane Milton. “We are absolutely ready, started planning days ago, even before it formed. We know it’s headed straight towards Florida,” said Criswell. FEMA has been working with the State Emergency Operations Center. Their goal is to ensure all necessary resources are positioned before the storm’s landfall.
For more Updates follow: Hurricane Milton Intensifies Into A Category 4; Prompts Hurricane And Storm Surge Watches In Florida
