Milton strengthened quickly in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday to become a Category 5 hurricane on its way to Florida, threatening a dangerous storm surge in Tampa Bay, leading to evacuation orders and an emergency response to the cleanup of Hurricane Helene, which also caused flooding. coastal expansion less than two weeks ago.
A hurricane warning was issued for parts of the Mexican state of Yucatan, and much of the west coast of Florida was under a hurricane and hurricane watch. Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, which often floods during severe storms, was also under a hurricane watch.
“This is the real deal here in Milton,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said at a news conference. “If you want to take on Mother Nature, you win 100 percent of the time.”
Milton strengthened quickly on Monday and was expected to become a major hurricane in the eastern Gulf. It had strong winds of up to 257 km/h, said the National Hurricane Center. The storm’s center was about 210 kilometers west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 1,160 kilometers southwest of Tampa at noon Monday, moving east-southeast at 15 km/h.
Its center could come ashore on Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area, and it could remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean. That would largely spare other states devastated by Helene, which killed at least 230 people on its path from Florida to the Appalachian Mountains.
Forecasters warned of a possible storm surge of 2.4 to 3.6 feet in Tampa Bay and said rip currents and river flooding could bring 13 to 25 inches of rain on mainland Florida and the Keys, with up to 38 inches in places.
The Tampa Bay area is still recovering from extensive damage from Helene and its powerful surge. Twelve people died, with the worst damage in the 32-kilometer barrier islands from St. Petersburg to Clearwater.
Floridians in the path of Hurricane Milton have a new warning: hunker down, or get out. The storm is now a Category 4 hurricane as it roars toward Florida’s west coast. CBC’s Marianne Dimain has more.
No time for red tape: DeSantis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that it is important that the debris from Helene be cleaned up before Milton’s arrival so that it does not become a dangerous flying projectile. More than 300 vehicles picked up the garbage on Sunday but found the dump gate locked when they tried to leave. State troopers used a rope tied to the van and it opened fire, DeSantis said.
“We don’t have time for bureaucracy and red tape,” DeSantis said. “We have to do the work.”
Nearly seven million people were urged to evacuate Florida in 2017 as Hurricane Irma bore down. The exodus congested highways, led to long lines at gas stations and left evacuees vowing never to leave again.
Building on lessons learned during Irma and other past hurricanes, Florida is planning emergency gas vehicle fueling and electric vehicle charging stations on exit roads, Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said Sunday.
“We’re preparing for … the biggest release we’ve seen, possibly since 2017, Hurricane Irma,” Guthrie said.
Milton’s center was about 240 kilometers west of Progreso, Mexico, and about 1,185 kilometers southwest of Tampa on Monday morning, moving east-southeast at 13 km/h, according to the hurricane center.
DeSantis expanded his state of emergency declaration Sunday to 51 counties and said Floridians should prepare for more power outages and disruptions, make sure they have a week’s worth of food and water and be ready to hit the road.
Exit, closure, cancellation
On the beaches in the area of ​​St. Pete Beach, where Hurricane Helene battered homes and businesses, nurses removed beach chairs and other items Monday that could become projectiles from the storm’s winds. Schools including the University of Central Florida in Orlando have announced they will close midweek, while Walt Disney World has said it is on alert for the storm but is operating normally for now.
Sarah Steslicki, who lives in Belleair Beach, said she was frustrated that much of the debris from Helene had not been collected quickly.
“They’ve washed and they haven’t picked up the trash, and now they’re trying to pick it up,” Steslicki said Monday morning. “If this one hits, it’s going to be missiles flying. Things are going to float and fly in the air.”
All toll roads are suspended in west central Florida. Airport St. Pete-Clearwater International said we will close after the last flight on Tuesday. Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, ordered the evacuation of all manufactured mobile homes Tuesday night.
“Yes, this stinks. We know that, and it comes after most of us are still recovering from Hurricane Helene,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “But if you protect your families, you will live.”
All classes and school activities in Pinellas County, home of St. Petersburg, is closed from Monday until Wednesday. Officials in Tampa have released all city garages to residents in hopes of protecting their vehicles from flooding, including electric vehicles. Cars must be left on the third floor or higher of each garage.
Even though Tanya Marunchak’s home in Belleair Beach was flooded with more than 1.2 meters of water from Helene, she and her husband weren’t sure Monday morning if they should evacuate. She wanted to leave, but her husband thought their three-story house was strong enough to withstand Milton.
“We lost all our cars, all our furniture; the first floor was destroyed,” said Marunchak. “This is the most unusual weather ever.”
If residents don’t get out, it can put first responders at risk or make rescue impossible: “If you stay there, you can die and my men and women can die trying to rescue you,” said Hillsborough Fire Rescue Chief Jason Dougherty.
Milton is a little atypical
Mexico’s coastal state of Yucatan announced the cancellation of classes in many coastal cities and towns, after forecasters predicted Milton would brush the northern part of the country. The cancellations include the most populous Gulf Coast cities, such as Progreso; the capital, Merida; and the Celestun nature reserve, known for its flamingos.
It has been two decades since so many hurricanes crossed Florida in such a short period of time. In 2004, an unprecedented five hurricanes hit Florida within six weeks, including three hurricanes that hit Florida.
Although Tampa hasn’t been hit directly by a hurricane in more than a century, other parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast have been recovering from such storms for the past two years. The Fort Myers area in southwest Florida is still rebuilding from Hurricane Ian, which caused $112 billion in damage by 2022. Three hurricanes have hit Florida’s Big Bend region in just 13 months, including Helene.
As the cleanup from Hurricane Helene continues, Florida is on the lookout for another storm expected to arrive later this week.
Milton is the most unusual storm to date in the west and is expected to cross the entire southern Gulf, according to Daniel Brown, a hurricane specialist at the center.
“It’s not uncommon to get a hurricane threat in October along the west coast of Florida, but for it to form all over the southwest Gulf and hit Florida is unusual,” Brown said. Most hurricanes that form in October and hit Florida come from the Caribbean, not the southwest Gulf, he said.
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