Florida is bracing for the wrath of Hurricane Milton, which surged back to a Category 5 storm, threatening to be one of the most destructive hurricanes to hit west-central Florida. The National Hurricane Center is urging residents to prepare for the worst.
“It’s worth emphasizing that this is a very serious situation,” the National Hurricane Center stressed on Tuesday. “Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.”
Hurricane Milton’s Deadly Path
After rapidly intensifying on Monday, Milton strengthened from a Category 1 to a near-record-breaking Category 5 hurricane, with terrifying winds reaching 180 mph and a central pressure of 897 millibars. While it has since slightly weakened to a Category 4 as it skirts the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, forecasters warn that it remains ” extremely dangerous hurricane” as it approaches Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The NHC revealed that Hurricane Milton holds the second-lowest pressure on record for the Gulf of Mexico and is the strongest Atlantic hurricane since Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
Massive Evacuations Underway
Floridians are urgently evacuating as state and local officials stress the severity of Milton’s impending impact, which is expected to include catastrophic storm surge, violent winds, and life-threatening flooding. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency across 51 counties, while President Joe Biden authorized federal disaster aid to ensure timely relief efforts.
On Tuesday, evacuation orders spread along Florida’s Gulf Coast, with toll suspensions on major routes and shoulder lanes opened to facilitate the flow.
“Of course, we suspended the tolls along evacuation routes and the Florida Department of Transportation has opened roadway shoulders as necessary to facilitate evacuations and ease congestion on both I-4 and I-75,” DeSantis stated.
Urgent Warnings of Catastrophic Damage
Local officials are cautioning residents to heed evacuation orders, warning that homes may become uninhabitable for months following the storm. In some regions, a storm surge of up to 15 feet is expected, threatening Tampa Bay and surrounding areas with life-threatening conditions.
“If you are in the Storm Surge Warning area, this is an extremely life-threatening situation, and you should evacuate today if ordered by local officials,” the NHC warned.
As Milton approaches, fuel supplies are being distributed rapidly to keep up with demand. “So, we currently have 268,000 gallons of diesel, 110,000 gallons of gasoline. Those numbers are less than what they were 24 hours ago because we’ve put a lot in.”
Widespread Closures and Disruptions
The anticipated devastation has led to widespread closures. Airports throughout the region will halt operations, with Tampa International Airport already shut down and other major airports set to close by Wednesday. Schools, universities, and theme parks, including Walt Disney World, are also closing ahead of the storm.
Milton Set to Make Landfall
Forecasters predict that Hurricane Milton will make landfall along Florida’s west-central coast by Wednesday night. The storm is currently 500 miles southwest of Tampa and is on track to bring relentless winds and torrential rains across Florida.
The NHC has cautioned that Milton’s wind field is expected to grow as it nears land, doubling in size, meaning the danger will extend far beyond the immediate impact area.
As residents race against time to secure their homes and evacuate, the full force of Hurricane Milton looms, potentially setting a new record for destruction in Florida.
