Communities in Florida are now urged to prepare for a possible Category 3 hurricane as Tropical Storm Milton moves toward the Gulf of Mexico. This warning comes just days after Hurricane Helene devastated the state, resulting in at least 20 deaths, widespread power outages, and significant destruction in affected areas.
Florida is still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on September 26 as a Category 4 hurricane, causing catastrophic flooding and devastation along a 500-mile path. The National Hurricane Center has indicated that Milton is likely to strengthen rapidly while crossing the Gulf and may reach the Florida Peninsula as a major hurricane by midweek.
The hurricane center raised concerns about how quickly and significantly the storm will intensify. Milton is projected to make landfall with winds up to 120 mph, with hurricane and storm surge watches expected for parts of the Florida coast on Sunday. Areas already hit hard by Hurricane Helene could face dangerous storm surges.
Despite uncertainties, there is growing confidence that a major hurricane with life-threatening hazards will impact Florida’s west coast in the middle of next week. Rainfall is anticipated to affect parts of Florida on Sunday and Monday. Notably, Milton formed early Saturday morning and is running weeks ahead of schedule, as the 13th named storm typically doesn’t occur until October 25.
As the storm approaches, the National Hurricane Center forecasts that Milton will become a hurricane in about 36 hours and a major hurricane within 72 hours. The storm’s rapid intensification is attributed to low wind shear and warm sea temperatures.
In response to the impending storm, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 35 counties on Saturday. The arrival of Milton poses a significant challenge to ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene and may further distress communities still reeling from the earlier disaster. Governor DeSantis has directed state agencies to coordinate resources for debris removal, search and rescue, and power restoration.
Heavy rainfall is another imminent threat, with the hurricane center predicting 5 to 8 inches of rain across parts of Florida. Localized totals could exceed 12 inches in some areas, particularly in the Keys, by next week. Such rainfall increases the risk of flash flooding and river flooding. Additionally, the chance of storm surge rises along the western Florida Peninsula, where damaging winds, tornadoes, and waterspouts could also occur next week.
