On Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden warned that Hurricane Milton could be the most devastating storm to hit Florida in a century. He urged those in the storm’s path to evacuate as soon as possible.
“This could be the worst storm to hit Florida in over a century, and God willing, it won’t be but that’s what it’s looking like right now,” said Biden
President Biden emphasized that Milton, which is expected to make landfall Wednesday night in the Tampa Bay area, could have a catastrophic impact.
“I’ve encouraged everyone currently located in Hurricane Milton’s path to listen to local officials and follow the safety instructions,” he also states that this is “a matter of life or death.”
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) also warned in its 11:00 a.m. local advisory that “today is the last day for Florida residents to prepare” at home or evacuate from designated areas if ordered by local officials. The center of Milton is expected to make landfall near Tampa Bay, in Hillsborough County, on Wednesday night.
Hurricane Milton Heading Toward the U.S.
The development of the hurricane has triggered warnings across the Gulf of Mexico. In the latest update from the U.S. National Hurricane Center, authorities stressed that Milton remains extremely powerful, currently located north of the Yucatán Peninsula, and poses an “extremely severe threat” to Florida.
The Tampa area is facing a potential 15-foot storm surge with Hurricane Milton. Here’s video of a similar surge in Ft Myers during Hurricane Ian.
Terrifying.pic.twitter.com/4ppSSM599q
— Mark Elliott (@markmobility) October 8, 2024
Residents are urged to follow local officials’ orders as Milton has regained its Category 5 status.
The hurricane is forecasted to “move near or just north of the Yucatán Peninsula tonight and Tuesday,” then cross the eastern Gulf of Mexico before “approaching Florida’s west coast on Wednesday,” meteorologists said. The NHC warned that Milton, described as a “potentially catastrophic” hurricane, will experience fluctuations but “will remain an extremely dangerous hurricane until it makes landfall in Florida.
Images of Hurricane Milton in Mexico
Early this morning, Mexican authorities ruled out the possibility of Hurricane Milton making landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula after the storm shifted eastward at 15 kilometers per hour. The storm has weakened from Category 5 to Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. However, the U.S. is not expected to escape the wrath of Milton, which could reach Florida as one of the top five worst hurricanes in history.
The International Space Station just orbited above Hurricane Milton as it is re-intensifying over the southern Gulf of Mexico.
Spectacular view from space. pic.twitter.com/KDShU0qZIN
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) October 8, 2024
Mexico’s National Meteorological Service reported that the center of Hurricane Milton was located 85 km northwest of Dzilam and 118 km west-northwest of Río Lagartos, both in Yucatán, with maximum sustained winds of 250 km/h and gusts of up to 280 km/h.
Milton’s wide circulation continues to bring torrential rains to Campeche and Yucatán, with heavy rainfall expected in Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Veracruz. Mexican authorities have been implementing alert and prevention measures throughout the Caribbean for days.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Miguel Fernandez in Cultura Colectiva News.
