Hurricane Milton, weakened but still very dangerous, passes through Florida this Thursday, leaving more than 2.8 million homes without electricity and causing flooding, two weeks after the devastating passage of Hurricane Helene.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday (00:30 GMT) that Milton made landfall. “near Siesta Key in Sarasota County.”
During the night, extreme winds of up to 165 km/h were recorded, according to data from the NHC, which warned of flood risks. More than 2.8 million homes were left without electricity, according to the specialized portal poweroutage.us.
Downgraded to category 3 (out of 5), the hurricane’s power decreased on Thursday morning, moving to category 1, according to the NHC. US President Joe Biden had anticipated on Wednesday that Milton could be “the worst storm in Florida in a century.”
accompanied by “extreme winds” and heavy rains, the megastorm caused “sudden” flooding upon arrival, the NHC report specified. It also caused tornadoes before reaching the center and south of the state, according to the Weather Channel.
Just before Milton made landfall, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis asked state residents to “stay inside and stay off the roads.”
How the path of Hurricane Milton continues
It is expected that Milton now advances towards the Atlantic Ocean, with the resort of Orlando — home to Walt Disney World — in its path. Tampa and Sarasota airports closed until further notice.
In the sector where Milton made landfall, the inhabitants confined themselves in advance, in their homes or in authorized centers.
Before the storm arrived in Tampa, Randy Prior, 36, declared himself “nervous.” “We are still recovering” from Hurricane Helene, which left “the ground saturated” with water, he said. In another big city, Fort Myers, Debbie Edwards, who decided not to leave, noted that everyone was “anxious.”
“It’s as if post-traumatic stress syndrome had set in” after another devastating hurricane, Ian, two years ago, he added.
Hurricane Milton: “A deadly and catastrophic storm”
Milton unleashed his fury just two weeks after another major hurricane, Helene, devastated Florida and other southeastern states, leaving at least 236 dead and emergency crews still providing aid.
Milton “it’s going to be a deadly and catastrophic storm”warned Deanne Criswell, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema, for its acronym in English).
For several days, authorities have been urging residents of affected areas to evacuate. “It’s a matter of life or death”Biden warned.
Florida, the third most populous state in the country and a frequent tourist destination, is used to hurricanes.
According to scientists, climate change plays a role in the rapid intensification of hurricanes, because warmer ocean surfaces release more water vapor, which gives storms more energy and intensifies their winds.
The rains and winds brought by Hurricane Helene were 10% more intense due to climate change, according to a study published Wednesday by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network.
Source: Ambito
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