Hurricane Milton Approaches Florida: Evacuations Urged as Devastation Looms
Category 4 Storm Expected to Strike Tampa Bay, Prompting Mass Evacuations and Dire Warnings
Hurricane Milton has swept across Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, unleashing relentless winds nearing 155 mph (250 kph) as it sets its sights on the vulnerable Tampa Bay area in Florida. Classified as a Category 4 storm, Milton is poised to become the 10th major hurricane to make landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast since 2017, fueled by the warm waters of the Gulf.
Meteorologists have described Milton as the most severe storm to threaten the Tampa region in over a century, with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) marking its intensity based on historical standards. The hurricane's trajectory indicated it would pass near the Mexican city of Mérida, home to 1.2 million residents, early Tuesday before veering north toward the U.S.
In preparation for the impending storm, Mexican officials have begun evacuating low-lying coastal areas, while the U.S. National Weather Service projects that Milton will strike Florida's southwest coast by Wednesday afternoon. The storm could wreak havoc on regions still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of Florida nearly two weeks ago.
As a precaution, nearly the entire west coast of Florida is under a hurricane warning, with over a million residents advised to evacuate to avoid catastrophic damage and prolonged power outages. Local officials have expressed concern about potential traffic congestion and long lines at gas stations as residents rush to evacuate.
"Now is the time to make the necessary decisions to keep yourself and your family safe," Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged at an early Tuesday briefing. "We need to prepare for a significant impact on the west coast of Florida."
U.S. meteorologists fear that Hurricane Milton could directly hit the densely populated Tampa Bay area, where more than 3 million residents reside. The city has not experienced a major hurricane strike since 1921, and officials predict that water levels could rise by as much as 15 feet (4.5 meters) due to the storm's impact. Tampa Bay's unique geography, characterized by a wide and shallow bottom, makes it particularly susceptible to storm surges.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor issued a stark warning to residents as Hurricane Milton approached the Gulf of Mexico. "If you choose to stay ... you will die," she stated emphatically during a CNN interview, describing the hurricane as "literally devastating" and cautioning that up to 15 feet of water could inundate the area.
In Washington, President Joe Biden reinforced the urgency of evacuating vulnerable areas, emphasizing that the storm poses a "matter of life and death." He acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, "It could be the worst storm to hit Florida in over a century." The President has urged airlines to facilitate evacuations and called for swift action to protect residents as preparations continue.
