Hurricane Milton expected to hit Florida midweek, likely to get stronger

The storm is likely to make landfall near the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday, possibly staying strong as it moves across central Florida and heads toward the Atlantic Ocean.

By: Express Web Desk

October 7, 2024 02:44 AM IST

3 min read

Satellite image of tropical storm Milton, center, off the coast of Mexico in the Gulf of Mexico. (AP photo)

Hurricane Milton is expected to quickly grow stronger before hitting Florida’s Gulf Coast midweek. Florida residents were warned on Sunday to prepare for a major hurricane, with Governor Ron DeSantis telling people in risky areas to be ready for serious impacts.

The storm is likely to make landfall near the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday, possibly staying strong as it moves across central Florida and heads toward the Atlantic Ocean. This warning comes while Florida is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which caused major damage last week and killed 230 people across the southeast.

Governor DeSantis expanded the state of emergency to 51 counties on Sunday and urged people in evacuation zones, especially on Florida’s west coast and barrier islands, to get ready to leave. “I don’t think there’s any scenario where we don’t have major impacts at this point,” he said, adding that people should have enough food, water, and other supplies for at least a week.

The Tampa Bay area, still cleaning up after Helene, is preparing for more damage. Twelve people died in the region during Helene, and DeSantis has sent National Guard troops to help clear debris and prepare for Milton. Pinellas County schools in St. Petersburg have already closed from Monday to Wednesday, and local officials are offering free parking in city garages to protect cars from possible flooding.

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FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is working closely with Florida’s government, preparing resources and response plans ahead of Milton’s arrival. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said the agency is ready to handle both the ongoing recovery from Helene and the upcoming storm.

As Hurricane Milton approaches, heavy rain is expected, with up to a foot of rain possible in some areas by Wednesday night. Florida’s Division of Emergency Management is preparing for one of the largest evacuations since Hurricane Irma in 2017, and is making sure fuel and emergency supplies are available along evacuation routes.

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Meanwhile, in the Atlantic, Hurricane Kirk has weakened to a Category 2 storm, bringing dangerous waves to Bermuda and the US east coast. Hurricane Leslie is also out in the ocean, posing no immediate threat to land. However, Milton remains the main focus as it nears Florida, with officials urging everyone to be ready.

(With inputs from AP)

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