Millions of people in Floridain USArushed to leave their homes this Wednesday before the arrival of Hurricane Milton to land. The phenomenon occurred as a storm category 3 at 20:30 local time (00:30 GMT) near Tampa with winds of 200 km/h.
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, warned that evacuating was a matter of “life or death” and it could be the country’s worst storm in 100 years. However, in Florida the threat of these types of storms is a part of local life. But why is this state so hit by hurricanes?
Key place on the map
Every year, between June and November, residents are notified by local authorities on how to prepare for a possible storm. The reason Florida has been hit by hurricanes is due to its extension: it occupies a territory of 170,312 km².
“Florida has a peninsula 400 miles (643 km) long and The length of Florida’s coastline is almost as long as the coastlines of all other states. of the region from Virginia to Texas combined,” he points out to BBC World Emily Powellof the Center for Oceanic-Atmospheric Prediction Studies at Florida State University.
“When tropical systems begin to make their way toward the western Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico region, Florida is very susceptible to them making landfall there,” the specialist clarifies.
What is Florida soil like?
The coastal soil characteristics of the state are another determining factor. “Florida is also vulnerable to the impacts of tropical cyclones partly due to their low-lying coastal areas and their bathymetry”explains Powell.
Bathymetry is the study of the deep sea. “The bathymetry of the west coast of Florida on the gulf side is very shallow compared to the east side of the Atlantic. “This shallow slope bathymetry increases the threat of storm surge,” he notes.
Storms in Florida
Florida is frequently in the path of storms. According to scientists, its storms are even more powerful in recent years due to the climate change.
“The impact is greater now than it would have been without human-induced climate change, as sea levels are higher,” he tells the BBC Liz Bentley, from the Royal Meteorological Society of the United Kingdom. In addition to this, warmer air that retains more moisture It is worsening the flooding because more intense rains are occurring.
Some historic hurricanes in the state of Florida
According to a survey by Florida Climate Centerare more than 20 hurricanes those that have been affecting the peninsula in the last century. In recent history, the most powerful hurricanes that caused the most damage in Florida were:
- Andrew: made landfall in homestead as category 5 in August 1992with winds up to 265 km/h. It was the most destructive to hit the state, with damage estimated at $25 billion. At least 250,000 people were left homeless, 15 died directly from the hurricane and dozens more died from related causes.
- Irma: hit the south coast in Marco Island as a Category 4 hurricane in September 2017. At least seven people died in the storm and around 65,000 buildings were damaged. Irma caused losses of US$50 billion.
- Michael: made landfall in the region of panhandle as category 5 in October 2018. Its damage, particularly from Panama Beach City to Cape San Blas, was catastrophic with costs of US$25 billion. At least eight people died directly from the hurricane and another 43 indirect deaths were recorded.
Source: Ambito
