More than a million people evacuated in the United States due to Hurricane Milton

2024-10-08 2024-10-08T13:36:34Z

Arab Weather - Hurricane Milton, which is classified by meteorologists as a Category 5 hurricane, is heading towards the US state of Florida. These warnings come at a time when the state is still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Helen, as authorities issued evacuation orders for more than a million people to stay away from Milton's path.

The center of Hurricane Milton is expected to come ashore Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area, which has not seen a direct hit from a major hurricane in more than a century, according to the Associated Press. Although the storm is expected to weaken slightly before making landfall, it could retain its strength as it heads across central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean. That's welcome news for some states devastated by Hurricane Helene, which killed at least 230 people.

Debris Removal and Storm Warnings

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that it was critical to clear debris from Hurricane Helene before Milton arrived to prevent it from becoming dangerous projectiles. More than 300 trucks were deployed to clear debris Sunday. As evacuations were ordered, forecasters warned of a storm surge of 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.6 meters) in Tampa Bay. That’s the highest storm surge ever forecast, nearly double the levels seen two weeks ago during Hurricane Helene, said National Hurricane Center spokeswoman Maria Torres.

Flood and rain forecast

The storm could cause widespread flooding, with 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 cm) of rain expected on mainland Florida, with up to 15 inches (38 cm) expected in some areas. The Tampa area has a population of more than 3.3 million people, and authorities have issued hurricane and storm surge warnings for much of Florida's west coast, as well as a hurricane warning for parts of Mexico's Yucatan state.

Hurricane strength increases

Hurricane Milton rapidly strengthened Monday over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, with the National Hurricane Center recording maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 kph). By late Monday, the storm's center was about 630 miles (1,015 km) southwest of Tampa and moving east at 9 mph (15 kph).

Mass evacuation orders ahead of Hurricane Milton prompted bumper-to-bumper traffic as the strongest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico in nearly two decades takes aim at Florida.

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The devastating effects of Hurricane Helen

The Tampa Bay area is still recovering from Hurricane Helen, where 12 people died, with the worst damage along a string of barrier islands from St. Petersburg to Clearwater. Pinellas County firefighters said they were removing chairs and other objects that could be blown away by strong winds.

Hillsborough County ordered the evacuation of all mobile and manufactured homes and areas adjacent to Tampa Bay by Tuesday night. President Joe Biden approved a state of emergency in Florida, where 7,000 federal employees were called in to help, one of the largest mobilizations of federal workers in history. Milton evoked memories of Hurricane Irma in 2017, which forced an estimated 7 million people to evacuate.

By Monday morning, some gas stations in the Fort Myers and Tampa areas had run out of gasoline. DeSantis said fuel was still flowing into Florida, where the state had collected hundreds of thousands of gallons of gasoline and diesel.

Preparations in Mexico

In Mexico, dozens of residents and tourists with suitcases lined up to board a ferry off Holbox Island at the eastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, known for its shallow seascapes. The low-lying, flood-prone island could be one of the closest points for Hurricane Milton before it moves toward Florida.

Causes of hurricane strength

Hurricane Milton's winds increased by 148 km/h in just 24 hours, a pace close to that of Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007. One reason for this rapid increase in strength is its "tiny eye," as the storm is expected to go through what is called an "eyewall replacement cycle," a natural process that creates a new eye and expands the storm in size, but can also result in weaker winds.

The Gulf of Mexico is unusually warm right now, which could help boost the hurricane's speed. The last Category 5 hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland was Hurricane Michael in 2018, raising concerns about Milton's potential impact.