by Tropical Storm Milton developed in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday and is expected to intensify into a hurricane as it approaches the west coast of Florida, the National Hurricane Center said.
Less than 10 days after Hurricane Helene hit Florida, the state is preparing for another possible severe impact from a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico that could reach Category 3 strength.
According to NBC News, forecasters at the center stated that Milton will likely reach hurricane status within 36 hours, characterized by sustained winds of 75 miles per hour or more, and could escalate to major hurricane status – a Category 3 with sustained winds of 120 km per hour. minimum 180 km/h – within 72 hours.
Hurricane watches and storm surge warnings are expected to be issued for parts of the Florida coast on Sunday, as some areas recently hit by Helene are likely to experience dangerous storm surge.
In anticipation of the storm, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 35 counties on Saturday, as stated in a news release from his office.
Residents of the Tampa Bay area and surrounding regions are advised to prepare, according to the National Hurricane Center forecast discussion.
“It is important for residents in these areas to have their hurricane plans ready, heed guidance from local officials and stay informed of expected changes,” the statement emphasized.
As Florida tries to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, DeSantis stated that the state “continues to deploy resources to ensure effective search and rescue, power restoration and road clearing.” The mayor of Hollywood, Florida, also declared a state of emergency for the city on Saturday in anticipation of Milton.
Hurricane Helene resulted in the deaths of at least 229 people in six states and caused widespread destruction. On Thursday, President Biden conducted an aerial survey of Florida’s Big Bend, where Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm. Hundreds are still missing, and Mr. Biden noted that rebuilding will require “billions of dollars” as many communities still lack power, running water and accessible roads.
It will be the fifth hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland in 2024, matching the records set in 2004, 2005 and 1893 for the highest number of hurricanes making landfall. Milton is the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which now has the highest number of such storms recorded between September 24 and October 5. The last time three named storms, including Kirk and Leslie, were active in the Atlantic Ocean in October was in 2018.
