By Federico Trabucci
09 Oct 2024, 09:25 AM EDT
Hurricane Milton will make landfall in Florida this Wednesday night. After reaching category 5 again on Tuesday night, it dropped to 4 this morning.
President Joe Biden warned it could be “the worst storm” to hit the state “in a century.”
Milton regained its intensity on Tuesday, becoming a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Follow the latest news from Hurricane Milton live:
09:48
Potential tornadoes in South Florida
Since early morning, some outer bands of Hurricane Milton have begun to impact areas of southern Florida, generating tornado warnings, especially in Miami-Dade, Monroe and Collier counties.
This risk will remain during the day, so we are under a tornado watch until 9 PM local time.
09:45
What area of Florida will Hurricane Milton pass through?
The counties in the possible impact area are Charlotte, Citrus, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee and Pasco, which began issuing mandatory evacuation orders on Monday.
09:43
Hurricane Milton drops to Category 4
Hurricane Milton, which remained a Category 5 overnight Tuesday, has decreased to Category 4 in the morning.
Despite this reduction, its magnitude remains considerable, which has led many Florida residents to seek shelter due to continued danger alerts.
09:36
Hurricane Milton: climate change influences storms
Scientists argue that global warming intensifies storms, as warmer ocean waters release more water vapor, which adds energy to storms and increases the intensity of winds.
A recent report from World Weather Attribution noted that Hurricane Helene’s strong winds and torrential rains were 10% more intense due to the impact of climate change.
09:32
What time will Hurricane Milton arrive in Florida?
The hurricane, which is advancing strongly through the eastern Gulf of Mexico, is expected to impact Florida with sustained winds of 270 kilometers per hour, according to forecasts from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The agency has predicted that the storm will make landfall in the west-central region of Florida on Wednesday night, around 11 PM local time.
Tampa, a city of more than three million inhabitants, is in the risk zone, with a high probability of being one of the first areas affected. In late September, Tampa already faced flooding and blocked roads due to Hurricane Helene.
09:29
More than 5 million people in Florida, under evacuation
Approximately 5.5 million people are under mandatory evacuation orders in several Florida counties ahead of the imminent arrival of Hurricane Milton tonight.
This phenomenon has generated one of the largest evacuations in the history of the state, according to reports from the Federal Emergency Agency (FEMA).
Thirty counties, in densely populated areas such as Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota and Fort Myers, have issued these orders, with a large portion of the population following the instructions and evacuating their homes.
Additionally, the state has set up shelters in schools and safe facilities, including “mega shelters” capable of housing thousands of people.
09:19
Maximum alert in Florida due to the arrival of Hurricane Milton
The NHC has warned Florida residents to prepare for the imminent arrival of the hurricane, urging them to follow evacuation instructions issued by local authorities.
“Preparations to protect life and property must be completed as soon as possible,” the agency stressed, highlighting the importance of having a plan in place before the hurricane’s effects become more intense.