On the heels of the devastation and death wrought by Hurricane Helene, US state Florida is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 4 storm currently moving through the Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds of 155 mph.
Expected to make landfall near Sarasota in the early hours of Thursday, Milton is forecast to bring life-threatening storm surges, destructive winds, and heavy rainfall across the state’s west-central coast.
Though slightly weakened from its earlier Category 5 designation Wednesday, forecasters warn Milton remains a “historic storm” for the region, potentially the worst to hit Tampa Bay in over a century.
The National Hurricane Center is urging residents not to focus solely on the storm’s exact landfall point, as devastating impacts are expected across a wide area.
Evacuation orders are in effect for millions of Floridians, while airports, schools, and businesses across Florida are shutting down. Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 51 counties, warning residents to prepare for widespread damage, power outages, and flooding.
US President Joe Biden has pre-approved federal aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency that had already been mobilized before Hurricane Helene hammered five southern states a week ago, and has urged Floridians to follow evacuation orders, stressing that “it’s a matter of life and death.” As the state prepares, forecasters expect Milton to rapidly weaken after crossing Florida, but not before leaving behind significant devastation.