Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, just two days before it’s expected to make landfall in Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami updated the forecast on Monday, indicating that the storm upgraded to Category 4 faster than anticipated.
The state is preparing for what could be its largest evacuation in seven years, as Milton approaches populated areas including Tampa and Orlando, following Hurricane Helene’s recent devastation that resulted in over 200 deaths across Florida into the Appalachian Mountains.
On Monday, the storm established itself as a major hurricane while traversing the Gulf of Mexico, boasting maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (249 km/h), according to the NHC. While intensity fluctuations may occur, the National Weather Service stated that Milton is forecasted to remain a highly dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida.
Even if the storm slightly weakens before its expected landfall on Wednesday or early Thursday, forecasters warned that the projected storm surge levels—Gulf waters being pushed inland—would be consistent with the highest category of the hurricane.
Milton is projected to strike the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday and may retain hurricane status while moving across central Florida into the Atlantic Ocean. If this trajectory holds, it would mark the 10th major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) to land on the U.S. Gulf Coast since 2017.
According to a CNN meteorologist, Milton is now the third-fastest storm to rapidly intensify on record in the Atlantic, with wind speeds increasing by 90 mph in less than 24 hours. Historical records indicate that only Wilma in 2005 and Felix in 2007 intensified more rapidly.
Experts point to climate change, exacerbated by the burning of fossil fuels, as a contributing factor to the increasingly destructive nature of storms like Milton.
In a post on X, Bill McKibben, an environmental studies scholar, remarked on the swift change in Milton’s status, highlighting that the storm escalated from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in just 22 hours.
Hurricane specialist John Morales provided an emotional update on NBC, noting that Milton’s winds have reached 160 mph while gaining strength over the Gulf waters at record-high temperatures. “It’s global warming and climate change that’s leading to this increasing threat,” he said, visibly affected by the situation.
Weather officials warned on Monday morning that Milton is expected to bring heavy rainfall, life-threatening storm surges, and strong winds, with predictions of sustained intensity for several days post-peak.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis indicated that while the exact impact zone remains uncertain, the state would receive significant effects. He urged residents to prepare their hurricane plans promptly and assume evacuation orders might be necessary, especially for those in vulnerable zones.
This marks the first instance in the Atlantic where three hurricanes are simultaneously active after September, according to hurricane scientist Phil Klotzbach from Colorado State University. The St. Petersburg-Tampa Bay area is still dealing with damage from Hurricane Helene, which caused at least 12 fatalities in Pinellas county.
Following Helene’s devastation, the Gulf Coast could see storm surges between 8 and 12 feet, with rainfall estimates ranging from five to ten inches, escalating to 15 inches in localized areas, raising the risk of significant flooding.
The state of emergency has been expanded to 51 counties, with residents advised to prepare for possible power outages. President Joe Biden approved Florida’s emergency declaration on Monday, authorizing federal assistance for state and local efforts.
Evacuations have been ordered in several counties, including Charlotte, Pinellas, and Hillsborough, with Orlando International and Tampa International airports halting commercial operations ahead of the storm.
As of Monday morning, various watches, including hurricane, flood, and storm surge watches, were active for parts of the Gulf of Mexico and Florida’s west coast. The National Weather Service emphasized that Milton will be a historic storm for Florida’s west coast.
