AccuWeather meteorologists are sounding the alarm, urging residents to heed evacuation orders as Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida, poised to deliver severe impacts by Wednesday.
“AccuWeather hurricane experts are increasingly concerned that Milton can become a ‘worst-case” hurricane impact for the Tampa Bay area,” warned AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter. “You do not want to wait for storm surge to start occurring before you take action. We have seen so many preventable tragedies during Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Ian. Please get out of areas at risk of this devastating storm surge while you still can. Hurricane Milton could push up to 23 feet of storm surge into the hardest hit areas. We are very concerned that Hurricane Milton could become one of the most damaging and costliest storms that Florida has ever seen.”
Read: Florida Governor DeSantis Provides Updates On Hurricane Milton Preparedness Efforts
Milton’s path is critical, Porter added. A slight shift could lead to drastically different outcomes for various parts of Florida. If Milton tracks just north of Tampa, parts of the Tampa Bay area could see storm surges of up to 23 feet, causing unprecedented destruction.
A more southerly path could reduce the surge in Tampa Bay but increase the risk of significant flooding in areas like Fort Myers, Naples, and Charlotte Harbor, which are already vulnerable after being hit by Hurricane Ian.
Widespread wind damage, flash flooding, and the threat of tornadoes are also expected across densely populated areas from Tampa and Orlando to Daytona Beach.
Porter stressed that wind gusts of 120-140 mph are expected to cause severe destruction, including roof failures and prolonged power outages along the I-4 corridor. “The entire corridor from Tampa to Daytona Beach needs to prepare for extensive infrastructure damage and power disruptions.”
Read: Monster Hurricane Milton Threatens “Destructive” Landfall In Florida
The destruction caused by Milton could be compounded by the debris left over from Hurricane Helene, which still litters many areas. Floodwaters and powerful winds could turn this debris into dangerous projectiles, amplifying the storm’s damage.
AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva highlighted Milton’s rapid intensification due to the record-breaking ocean heat content in the Gulf of Mexico, which has fueled the storm’s growth into a Category 5 hurricane.
Although the storm may lose some wind intensity before landfall, DaSilva warned that Milton will still be massive and dangerous.
“A reduction in the storm’s Saffir-Simpson rating doesn’t mean it’s less dangerous. The storm will spread out, increasing the risk of life-threatening storm surges and damaging winds across Florida.”
Read: Mandatory Evacuations Ordered For Pinellas County As Hurricane Milton Nears
With three hurricanes active in the Atlantic basin and an unusually intense hurricane season, meteorologists are urging those in evacuation zones to leave immediately. “Even if it seems like evacuations aren’t necessary after the fact, safety must come first,” Porter stressed. “You do not want to be in a situation where it’s too late to protect your life and your family.”
Rainfall totals could reach up to 12 inches, with a Local StormMax™ of 30 inches in some areas, leading to widespread flooding. Wind gusts of 60-80 mph are expected across central and southern Florida, with gusts reaching up to 165 mph in areas near the storm’s center.
AccuWeather has rated Milton as a 4 on the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes, signaling widespread catastrophic flooding, long-lasting power outages, structural damage, and severe coastal inundation.
The message is clear: residents in affected areas should evacuate and prepare for the devastating impacts of Hurricane Milton.
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