Most powerful in 100 years: What makes hurricane Milton so dangerous for US

Contents

• Who will feel Milton's impact first
• Will the hurricane move on
• How Florida is preparing for the storm
• Biden and Blinken canceled trip to Germany

Who will feel Milton's impact first

According to the US National Hurricane Center, life-threatening winds, dangerous storm surges, and heavy rainfall will spread as the hurricane approaches the eastern coast of the US. Experts predict significant damage and losses since the hurricane is approaching a densely populated area.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has urged residents to evacuate immediately due to the approaching storm. The New York Times, citing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), reports that over 5.5 million people have received mandatory or recommended evacuation alerts. This is the largest evacuation in Florida’s history.

According to DeSantis, the state has been preparing for a potentially devastating storm. Power workers have even arrived from California to assist with the aftermath, as experts predict prolonged power outages due to the hurricane.

The first area expected to feel the impact is Tampa, a densely populated city located in the bay of the same name on the Gulf Coast. Meteorologists report that the storm's wind field will double when it lands in Florida.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor issued an urgent warning to residents who chose to stay in evacuation zones:
"I can say without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re going to die," she said.

Will the hurricane move on

Hurricane Milton is not expected to stop at Tampa. According to forecasts, it will likely cross Florida to its opposite coast on the Atlantic Ocean. Destructive winds could also cause damage far inland. Flooding and possible tornadoes are additional threats.

The US National Hurricane Center predicts that Milton will land on Wednesday evening, but NBC News forecasts a later landfall between 2:00 and 6:00 a.m. Thursday local time.

Milton has already been assigned Category 5 hurricane status, the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale, indicating immense wind power and the risk of catastrophic damage. Meteorologists have reported that the hurricane's speed has slightly weakened, but it remains a Category 5 hurricane.

Photo: The area marked in red shows the potential path of the storm (weather.com)

Storm warnings cover almost the entire western coast of Florida. The area, which includes Pinellas County, Sarasota, and the city of Tampa, is expected to experience flooding from 10 to 15 feet (over 3 to 4.5 meters) above ground level. In St. Petersburg, winds during the storm may reach 100 miles per hour (over 160 km/h), which is higher than during Hurricane Helen.

Milton will cross Florida from west to east. In Orlando and its surrounding areas, meteorologists have warned of up to 15 inches (38.1 cm) of rain and stated that the city and region face an "extreme flood threat."

How Florida is preparing for the storm

However, the hurricane’s strength cannot be assessed with certainty, as it fluctuates between the highest category, weakens, and gains strength again. Wind speeds at the storm’s epicenter are currently 280 km/h.

Residents are boarding up windows, sandbagging homes, and installing drainage systems to minimize the potentially catastrophic consequences. In addition to evacuation, regional airports have reported closures, and zoo animals are being prepared for the storm.

According to CNN reporters, Florida’s highways are filled with vehicles, more than 17% of gas stations are out of service, and fuel is running low at some stations.

#Milton's pressure has dropped to 902 hPa. The only #hurricane with lower pressure this late in the calendar year in the Atlantic on record is Wilma (2005-882 hPa). Atlantic pressure readings have been consistently recorded since 1979. pic.twitter.com/XKmLCBkDrw

— Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) October 9, 2024

Residents along Florida’s coast and throughout the state are urged to have an evacuation plan, pack an emergency kit, and prepare supplies, including non-perishable food and water, in case of prolonged power outages. They are also advised to have cash, as ATMs may not work.

Notably, the region is still recovering from the devastating Hurricane "Helen," which, according to "Voice of America," killed more than 200 people and destroyed much of the communication and infrastructure in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia. Experts believe that those fleeing from the next destructive hurricane may face challenges.

Photo: Florida prepares for Milton 10 days after Hurricane "Helen" (Getty Images)

Biden and Blinken canceled trip to Germany

US President Joe Biden warned that the hurricane could become one of the most devastating in the region in the past century.

"God willing it won’t be, but that’s what it’s looking like right now," he urged residents to evacuate.

Biden assured that he had held talks with representatives of all political forces in the region and promised them "any support that may be needed."

Given the hurricane's power, the US President postponed his trip to Angola and Germany. In Germany, he was expected to lead a "Ramstein" meeting on arms supplies to Ukraine and discuss further support for Ukrainians with allies.

The US, France, the UK, and Germany leaders planned to meet this Saturday in Berlin to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war and the latest developments in the Middle East.

However, the Pentagon already has information that, due to the circumstances, the Ramstein meeting may be postponed and combined with the NATO defense ministers' meeting on October 17-18. However, a final decision has not yet been made.

"And finally, as many of you are aware, due to Hurricane Milton, President Biden is no longer traveling to Ramstein to participate in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. We are still working through what that means for the Secretary's schedule, but when we have an update, we'll be happy to share," said US Department of Defense spokeswoman Sabrina Singh during a briefing.

Following President Biden, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also canceled his trip to Germany.

Sources: the White House site, Pentagon site, materials from Associated Press, Voice of America, CNBC, CNN, BBC, and The New York Times.