The United States is in a very unsettled state in October 2024. Meteorologists have noticed that one of the most powerful hurricanes of the century, Milton, is approaching the state of Florida. The wind speed at the epicenter of the hurricane is 290 kilometers per hour. Winds of such force can easily destroy houses, uproot trees and cause hundreds of deaths. Residents of Florida left their homes and decided to go inland before the storm reached land. Because of this, traffic jams formed on the roads and people panicked. It seems that this is one of the most serious natural disasters in history, so it is worth talking about in more detail.
Satellite image of Hurricane Milton moving toward Florida. Image credit: Live Science
Contents
- 1 Milton is the most powerful hurricane of the decade
- 2 Category 6 hurricane
- 3 Evacuation in Florida
- 4 Could an entire state disappear in the US?
- 5 Hurricane Helen aftermath
- 6 Hurricane Milton aftermath
- 7 Hurricane Milton photos
Milton is the most powerful hurricane of the decade
According to IFL Science, Hurricane Milton gained enormous strength in record time. In less than 12 hours, it transitioned from a Category 1 hurricane to a powerful Category 5 hurricane, with winds reaching speeds of up to 285 kilometers per hour. This made Milton the fifth most powerful Atlantic hurricane in history.
Another satellite image of the powerful Hurricane Milton. Image source: IFL Science
Hurricane Milton's destructive path began on October 7 near Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, where meteorologists say it began to gain strength. Milton then moved into the Gulf of Mexico, where it continued to strengthen. Milton was expected to reach the west coast of Florida on the night of October 9. It could hit Tampa first. At the time of publication, there were no reports of the hurricane reaching Florida or causing damage.
Tampa is the third largest city in the state of Florida, located on the coast of the Gulf of the same name. Image source: foxbusiness.com
In addition to strong winds, the main threat to people will be the so-called storm surge – a sharp rise in sea level due to pressure drops. In the city of Tampa, the water level could increase by 3.6 meters, which will lead to the flooding of tens of thousands of homes and billions in losses.
In addition to winds and surge, heavy rains will hit Florida, which will cause flash floods and serious river overflows.
Category 6 hurricane
Hurricane Milton is so powerful that some experts are talking about introducing a new, category 6 for such natural disasters. Hurricanes are currently rated on the Saffir-Simpson scale, which divides them into five categories. Category one is the weakest, with wind speeds starting at 119 kilometers per hour, and Category five is the most destructive, with winds in excess of 252 kilometers per hour, capable of leaving behind complete devastation.
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Image source: sciencenotes.org
Seeing the terrifying power of Hurricane Milton, meteorologists are proposing to expand this scale. Due to climate change, hurricanes are becoming stronger, and a Category 6 could become a reality. For this to happen, wind speeds must reach 185 mph. Hurricane Milton has already almost reached this mark with winds of 185 mph, making it one of the strongest hurricanes on record.
Talks about expanding the hurricane power scale have been going on for a long time: Modern hurricanes are so strong that scientists are ready to give them a new power category
Evacuation in Florida
Florida residents are actively preparing for the approach of Hurricane Milton, trying to protect their homes and lives. Judging by the messages on social networks, they are laying sandbags along doors, covering windows with plywood, and leaving the state if possible. Due to the evacuation, miles-long traffic jams have formed on the roads, because the number of people wanting to leave Florida is in the millions.
Floridians are doing everything they can to save their homes. Image source: reddit.com
Authorities have already called for about 5.5 million people to evacuate. The mayor of Tampa has warned that staying in evacuation zones is deadly. He noted that this hurricane is a disaster, and if someone decides to stay, it will be their last decision. To help people leave Florida faster, all roads in the state became free, and drivers were allowed to drive on the shoulder. Despite this, traffic jams still formed on the roads.
Many Floridians Are Trapped Due to Gas Shortages. Image Credit: nytimes.com
In the end, it turned out that not everyone was able to leave the dangerous areas: airports were closed, shipping was suspended, and there was a catastrophic shortage of gasoline at gas stations. Despite the delivery of fuel, gas stations quickly emptied, leaving people in traffic jams tens of kilometers from the coast. Hotels outside the risk zone were overcrowded, and some residents, seeing no other options, stayed home, hoping to wait out the hurricane.
Could an entire state disappear in the US?
Some sources claim that a hurricane could wipe an entire state off the face of the Earth, but such claims are greatly exaggerated. In 2005, the United States was hit by the powerful Hurricane Katrina, the horrific consequences of which were shown on television. This natural disaster devastated the state of New Orleans, but it is important to note that it was not only the hurricane that severely damaged it. The main cause of the disaster was the failure of the levees, and not the storm itself.
New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Image source: wikimedia.org
Chief specialist of the Meteonovosti news agency Tatyana Pozdnyakova assures that Hurricane Milton is unlikely to lead to such consequences. Although the hurricane poses a serious threat, especially due to strong winds and possible flooding, only coastal areas of Florida will be flooded, and not the entire state. Evacuation of people is necessary because people will not be able to hide in basements – they can simply be flooded.
Read also: 5 worst natural disasters in human history
Consequences of Hurricane Helen
To make matters worse, Florida has already been hit by Hurricane Helene, which hit the southeastern United States in late September 2024. It was the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the region and the deadliest on the U.S. mainland since Katrina in 2005. With winds of 220 kilometers per hour, it caused devastation both on the coast and inland.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helen. Image Credit: Sean Rayford/Getty Images
The aftermath was devastating, with the storm causing massive flooding in Western North Carolina, East Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia. In addition to the damaging winds, the storm brought tornadoes that made the situation even worse. The disaster killed more than 200 people and left many areas flooded and devastated.
Hurricane Helen caused thousands of homes to flood. Image source: Marco Bello/Reuters
The aftermath of Hurricane Milton
Updated 10.10.2024.
Hurricane Milton really became one of the most destructive natural disasters to hit Florida in 2024. However, it was not as powerful as meteorologists thought. At the same time, videos from the scene are truly terrifying.
With wind gusts of over 100 mph, the storm tore through everything in its path. About 125 homes were destroyed, many of them mobile homes. St. Lucie County was hit the hardest, with more than 10 tornadoes reported, flipping cars and razing buildings to their foundations. The first victims were residents of a nursing home hit by the tornado, and the death toll is still being determined.
Rescue efforts were hampered by strong winds. In some cities, such as Orlando and Tampa, emergency services were forced to suspend their calls because the winds were so strong, making any rescue operations dangerous. Some counties lost up to 97% of their power, and the city of St. Petersburg had problems with its water supply. Flooding was an additional threat to more than 2.5 million people, and authorities warned of potentially deadly conditions if rivers overflowed their banks.
At the time of updating this article, Hurricane Milton is weakening and moving northeast, but the impact of its impacts will be felt for a long time. State authorities continue to fight flooding and restore vital utilities.
Photos of Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton has passed, and all the horror seems to be behind us. Floridians and journalists have already taken many photos of the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, and you can see them right now.
The aftermath of the hurricane in the Florida city of Fort Myers. Image source: Reuters
The storm mostly destroyed mobile homes, which are notoriously fragile. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
A construction crane fell in St. Petersburg due to a hurricane. Photo source: Reuters
Flooding in Florida from Hurricane Milton. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Strong winds have damaged power lines. Photo credit: Reuters
A bird's eye view of the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Image source: Reuters
Flooded streets of the Florida city of Gulfport. Photo source: Associated Press
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