Hurricane Milton: Florida braces for historic storm

© Pixabay

Barely recovered from the passage of Helene two weeks ago, Florida is preparing to face Milton, a hurricane of exceptional power. Rated category 4 out of 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, it threatens to hit the west coast of the state with a violence rarely seen before. It is expected to make landfall Thursday, October 10, during the night.

The 2024 hurricane season has been distinguished by particularly intense activity, which can be explained by several factors. First, the waters of the North Atlantic have reached record heat, providing the energy necessary for the formation and development of hurricanes. Second, the atmospheric configuration has favored the formation and movement of these low pressure systems, a phenomenon accentuated by the absence of El Niño, which could have attenuated the hurricane activity.

A meteorological monster at the gates of Florida

Milton is approaching the Florida coast with winds reaching 250 km/h. The National Hurricane Center is calling it a “ historic storm ,” potentially the most devastating storm to hit the Tampa Bay area(west coast of Florida) for over a century. The forecast is absolutely terrifying: 112 mph winds and torrential rains are expected in the city of Tampa, which has a population of nearly 400,000.

Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 51 counties. Officials are anticipating extended power outages and are recommending residents stock up on emergency supplies for at least a week. Even more worrisome is the fear that water levels could rise as much as 15 feet above normal levels. Many neighborhoods, infrastructure and even islands could be completely submerged by water, making some areas uninhabitable for long periods of time.

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L’ Radar image shows the intensity of rainfall at dawn as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, with torrential rains threatening Tampa and Orlando. © CBS Miami

Between exodus and resignation

Faced with the imminent threat, thousands of Floridians have chosen evacuation, causing endless traffic jams on the main roads. ” I'm still scared, I have nightmares about the last hurricane ,” says one resident, ready to leave her home. Motorists are lining up at gas stations, some of which are already out of fuel.

In Tampa, Mayor Jane Castor is issuing a stark warning: ” Helene was a real wake-up call. It's literally catastrophic. And I can tell you, without any exaggeration, that if you choose to stay in one of these evacuation zones, you will die .” Despite these warnings, some, like Bridgit Budd on Sanibel Island, have decided to stay. ” There's just no place I'd rather be. I don't recommend it to anyone or promote it ,” she says.

The situation is all the more worrying because Tampa's streets are still littered with debris left behind by Hurricane Helene. That debris is at risk of turning into deadly projectiles in Milton's high winds. Residents who remain are barricading themselves in, using sandbags to protect their properties. This hurricane is shaping up to pose a significant threat to the resilience of a state already battered by natural disasters, and could leave lasting scars on the region's coastal landscape.

• Florida is bracing for Milton, a Category 4 hurricane threatening to hit the West Coast with winds of 155 mph.
• The state has declared a state of emergency, anticipating massive flooding and power outages, forcing thousands of Floridians to evacuate.
• Authorities warn that Milton could be one of the most devastating hurricanes in recent history, with deadly risks for those left behind.

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