Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane, surprising meteorologists with its swift development just two days before it is projected to make landfall in Florida.
The state is bracing for its largest evacuation in seven years as the storm approaches key population centers, including Tampa and Orlando.
This comes only weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Florida and the Appalachian Mountains, resulting in over 200 fatalities.
As Milton traverses the Gulf of Mexico, it has sustained winds reaching 150 mph (240 km/h), according to the National Hurricane Center.
Forecasters warn that even if the storm weakens slightly before landfall, the potential storm surge—Gulf waters pushed inland—could still be catastrophic.
Florida prepares for its largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma, urging residents to stay alert.Milton is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday and could remain a hurricane as it travels across central Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean.
Should this trajectory hold, it would mark the tenth major hurricane to strike the U.S. Gulf Coast since 2017.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “There’s no scenario where we don’t have major impacts at this point.”
He urged residents to finalize their hurricane preparedness plans, with ample time to do so through Tuesday.
Mandatory evacuation orders have already been issued for certain areas, including the coastal city of Anna Maria.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which caused significant damage and fatalities in Pinellas County, the region is still recovering.
Experts predict storm surges of 8 to 12 feet in areas like St. Petersburg and surrounding counties.
With weather watches in effect across the Gulf of Mexico and Florida’s west coast, residents are urged to prepare for possible power outages and flooding.
As many as 4,000 National Guard troops are deployed to assist in preparation and recovery efforts as Florida braces for what could be a historic storm.