Hurricane Milton made a catastrophic landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday, bringing severe flooding, storm surges, and power outages that have left over 3 million homes without electricity. The powerful storm, fueled by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, briefly reached Category 5 status before striking near Sarasota. This marks the second major hurricane to hit the region in under two weeks, with widespread damage caused by heavy rains, tornadoes, and strong winds.
Storm Surges and Flooding Overwhelm Gulf Coast
Forecasters warned of storm surges reaching up to 13 feet, and relentless rainfall has already totaled between 10 and 14 inches. Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert received a call from President Joe Biden, who acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the hurricane and expressed the federal government’s commitment to supporting recovery efforts in the city.
Deadly Tornado Hits Fort Pierce
A tornado spawned by Hurricane Milton caused multiple fatalities at a retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida. Local officials reported that the storm tore through Spanish Lakes Country Club Village, leaving several dead. Search and rescue operations are ongoing as the exact number of casualties remains unknown.
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Tampa Bay Sees Unusual Reverse Surge
Hurricane Milton’s powerful winds have caused a reverse storm surge in Tampa Bay, temporarily sucking water out of the bay. A water gauge near Tampa showed a significant drop in water levels as the hurricane’s eye moved south. This phenomenon, also seen during Hurricanes Ian and Irma, is expected to reverse, potentially leading to dangerous flooding when the water rushes back in.
Though Hurricane Milton was downgraded to Category 2, the National Weather Service issued a rare flash flood emergency for the Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Heavy rainfall has created an immediate risk of life-threatening flash floods, with more flooding expected as the storm progresses.
Wind Speeds Hit 102 mph
The storm’s wind speeds reached up to 102 mph (165 km/h) in the Tampa Bay area, with gusts as high as 115 mph (185 km/h) near Sarasota, according to reports from The National Weather Service. These winds kept Hurricane Milton classified as a Category 3 storm just hours before its landfall.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with reports indicating that approximately 125 homes were destroyed before the storm fully hit. Over 200 people sought shelter at a high school in Orlando, bringing pets and supplies to wait out the hurricane.
Milton’s landfall caused widespread power outages across Florida, with more than 2 million homes . Within minutes of the storm’s arrival, 70,000 homes were left in darkness, a number that rapidly increased as the hurricane continued its path of destruction.
Tornadoes and Severe Weather Alerts Across the State
As Hurricane Milton moved inland, weather service centers across Miami, Tampa, and Melbourne issued more than 130 tornado alerts. Strong wind warnings were also issued for Manatee, Pinellas, and Hillsborough counties in west-central Florida, further heightening the danger for residents.
Ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival, more than 3 million residents of the Tampa Bay area were ordered to evacuate. Tampa’s mayor warned that remaining in the area could be life-threatening, as the hurricane rapidly intensified, growing from 175 miles wide to more than 250 miles in just a few hours. Despite slightly weakening before landfall, the storm remained one of the most dangerous hurricanes in Gulf of Mexico history.
The Spanish Lakes Country Club, a residential community in the path of the storm, suffered extensive damage, with homes destroyed and lives lost. The Sheriff's Office reported that four residents died in the tornadoes, highlighting the storm’s deadly impact before the hurricane even made landfall.
Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, stated that about 125 homes were destroyed in the storms, many of them mobile homes within senior citizen communities. Residents in vulnerable areas, particularly those in mobile homes, were urged to seek shelter ahead of the hurricane’s approach.
Also Read: https://vygrnews.com/international/cat5miltonfloridawillfaceoneofthemostintensehurricanes
With inputs from agencies
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