The new Florida-bound hurricane comes just about four hours after reaching Category 4 status and less than two weeks after Hurricane Helen devastated parts of the southeastern United States, strengthening to a Category 5 hurricane. I strengthened it.
Hurricane Milton has “strengthened to Category 5” with maximum winds estimated at 160 miles per hour and higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in the Gulf of Mexico. said 11:55 a.m. ET Monday.
…Milton rapidly strengthens into a Category 5 hurricane…
Data from Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft shows Milton has strengthened to Category 5. Maximum sustained winds are estimated at 160 mph with higher gusts. https://t.co/dv1LkCViaN pic.twitter.com/zUwi2CNJhi
— National Hurricane Center (@NWSNHC) October 7, 2024
NHC Director Michael Brennan said Milton is expected to “make landfall as a strong hurricane on the west coast of Florida late Wednesday, and then move across the state and into the western Atlantic Ocean as a hurricane again by early Thursday morning.” said Monday. The Yucatan Peninsula will also be affected.
Milton achieved Category 4 status as of 9:05 a.m. Monday as maximum sustained wind speeds reached 150 mph and minimum pressures reached 940 mb. According to NHC.
An unusual amount of lightning occurred within the eyewall of Hurricane Milton this morning.
Milton is currently a strong Category 4 storm. pic.twitter.com/REcyx7PlwA
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) October 7, 2024
By comparison, Hurricane Helen had a maximum sustained wind speed of 140 miles per hour and a minimum central pressure of 938 mb (27.70 inches). landed On September 26, it became a Category 4 hurricane in the Big Bend area of Florida. The death toll from Helen reached 227 on Saturday and is likely to rise as bodies are still being recovered, the Associated Press reported. reported.
NHC’s storm surge division is issued A storm surge warning is in effect for parts of western Florida, with Tampa Bay and surrounding areas bracing for waves up to 12 feet high from Milton. Residents may receive evacuation orders from local authorities. (Related article: ‘Very alarming’: Totally insane ‘once-in-284,000-year event’ heralds extremely violent hurricane season)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): “If you are in the path of Hurricane Milton, now is the time to act.” said After Milton was classified as a Category 4 storm. “If an evacuation order is issued, do not delay and evacuate immediately. Remaining may mean risking your life and the lives of those you care about. ”
We offer various types of assistance. To learn more about the types we offer, please visit: https://t.co/ngc8tUwqTw.
People in disaster-declared areas can also apply for assistance by calling 800-621-3362. https://t.co/mSsI4eEQevor download the FEMA app.#Helen pic.twitter.com/XCq6v1clBO
— FEMA (@fema) October 4, 2024
“@FLSERT [The Florida Division of Emergency Management] We are responding to more than 600 requests for resources from communities in the path of the storm,” said Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. said Monday. “We are deploying truckloads of food and water, ambulances, Starlink, and more than 6,000 feet of flood protection systems to protect critical infrastructure in Central Florida and the Tampa Bay region. We have an additional 1.5 million gallons of fuel in stock and plan to use it as needed.”
“We don’t have time for bureaucracy and red tape,” DeSantis added.
FLSERT Published evacuation order It is affecting several counties in Florida.
There are also two other storms occurring at the same time as Milton in the Atlantic Basin, Leslie and Kirk, but they are considered less dangerous. update From NHC.
For the first time in recorded history, three hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic Basin since October.
H/t @philklotzbach As for the interesting statistics. pic.twitter.com/dohSvl8bFG
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) October 6, 2024
As of around 11 a.m., Leslie’s winds were moving northwest and had weakened to about 130 km/h, according to the NHC. said. Leslie could weaken to a tropical storm within about 24 hours.
At the same time, Kirk was able to: probably will remain A large and powerful extratropical cyclone, currently maintain Winds of 75 mph, According to NHC. As it moves northeast, it could cause potentially dangerous rip currents and surf along the East Coast.
None of these storms have issued any watches or warnings for coastal areas at this time.
