Time has pretty much run out for Florida residents in Storm Surge Warning areas to evacuate the path of Hurricane Milton, which is approaching the Gulf coast of the Florida Peninsula with a potentially historic (and deadly) storm surge.
According to CNN, which is tracking Milton, the most life-threatening storm surge is expected to occur in Tampa, where Milton is now 150 miles away and 130 miles from Fort Myers.
More than 90 tornado warnings have been issued today across the state, with several labeled a “particularly dangerous situation” and 11 confirmed over parts of the state.
Weather experts say the major hurricane is expected to hit landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast overnight and is predicted to be one of the “most destructive storms” to date in the state. Reports as of this afternoon confirmed winds between 52 mph and 59 mph in areas like Key West, St. Petersburg, Naples, Clearwater, and Sarasota.
Since midnight, some areas like Sarasota, North Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, and Tampa have seen around 2 to 4 inches of rain.
“Some changes within the eye caused the storm’s peak wind intensity to e
ase on Monday night, but as anticipated, some regaining of strength occurred on Tuesday afternoon,” said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva. “On Wednesday, as Milton encounters some wind shear and another eyewall replacement cycle, it is forecast to expand in size and lose some wind intensity. Milton will make landfall as a formidable Category 3-4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale late Wednesday evening.”Guardian News reported that President Joe Biden said Milton is “looking like the storm of a century” and may result in “historic devastation.”
Earlier today, the National Hurricane Center predicted a maximum storm surge of 13 feet with some of the most intense winds on the northern side and potentially affecting areas that don’t normally experience them during a hurricane. Tropical storm-force winds reportedly span a 250-mile radius.
The storm was projected to potentially hit land as early as 11 p.m.
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