Hurricane Milton, now ranked as one of the most powerful hurricanes of the season, is heading straight for the west coast of Florida. With devastating winds and threatening rising waters, the Tampa Bay region is in the crosshairs of this potentially catastrophic weather phenomenon. As millions of residents have been ordered to evacuate, anxiety is mounting in a region that has avoided the worst for more than a century. But this time, Hurricane Milton could well change the situation.
Ouragan Milton © NOAA
Florida’s west coast on alert: direct impact on Tampa Bay
Powerful Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified to Category 5 earlier today, raising fears of dire consequences for Florida’s central Gulf Coast. While storms outlying the hurricane have already affected some counties, officials warn that time is running out for those who have not yet evacuated. The hurricane, which was located at 3 p.m. this Wednesday about 320 km southwest of Tampa with winds reaching 250 km/h, is expected to make landfall on Thursday around 1 a.m. (French time).
Although Milton weakened slightly by mid-afternoon as it approached the coast, it will still remain a major hurricane upon impact, likely still a Category 4. Areas around Tampa could experience storm surge of up to ‘to 4.5 meters, a critical situation for the region which has more than 3.3 million inhabitants. The last time a hurricane of this magnitude directly hit this area was more than a century ago, making the threat all the more alarming.
Ouragan Milton © NOAA
Devastating impacts expected over a large area
Despite a decrease in strength, Milton should cause plenty of damage. Indeed, over the last 24 hours, tropical storm force winds have extended 130 to 225 km around its center. This means the impacts of the storm will be felt across much of the Florida peninsula. Tampa and other cities like Orlando are in the direct path of the storm, causing significant concern in densely populated areas. In addition, the debris caused by Hurricane Helene, 15 days ago, will be projectiles which will accentuate the dangers of this phenomenon.
Local authorities said the time to evacuate was coming to an end. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that evacuation efforts must be accelerated and that those left behind will find themselves in a critical situation. Despite orders to leave, some people may choose to stay, putting their lives at risk as Milton could become one of the most destructive storms in Florida history.
Hurricane Milton poses an unprecedented threat to West Central Florida, particularly the Tampa Bay area, which is bracing for significant damage. As the storm approaches, authorities continue to alert the population and take measures to protect lives and property. Milton, with its growing size and power, may go down in history as one of the most devastating storms Florida has ever experienced. Rapid evacuation and vigilance remain the best strategies to limit human losses in the days to come.
