Hurricane Milton Update: Storm Leaves Florida as a Category 1 After Impacting the West Coast
Hurricane Milton is forecasted to move through Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, following what President Joe Biden described as “the storm of the century” when it made landfall on the state’s west coast.
In Tampa’s downtown area early Thursday, strong winds knocked down traffic signals, uprooted signs, and sent construction barriers flying across the wet roads. Milton’s winds also peeled back plywood intended to protect against the storm, complicating emergency responses.
In the storm’s aftermath, areas were left flooded, houses were damaged, and the roof of Tropicana Field was severely impacted.
Milton touched down late Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane on Florida’s western coast, accompanied by a series of tornadoes. It struck close to Siesta Key in Sarasota County, unleashing severe conditions across Tampa Bay, Sarasota, and other parts still recovering from the earlier destruction caused by Hurricane Helene less than two weeks prior.
Officials, including Biden and Governor Ron DeSantis, had advised residents for days leading up to the storm to follow evacuation recommendations given the storm’s dangerous nature.
At least two fatalities were reported at a retirement community due to a suspected tornado in Fort Pierce on the east coast, as reported by NBC News, referencing remarks from St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson. By early Thursday, over 3 million homes and businesses were without power, according to data from YSL News.
“It’s literally a matter of life and death,” Biden stated during a White House emergency briefing.
Warnings of Ongoing Risks from the National Hurricane Center
In its latest update at 5 a.m. Thursday, the National Hurricane Center cautioned that hurricane-strength winds of around 85 mph are expected to persist for several more hours in east-central and northeast Florida.
“Residents are advised to stay in interior rooms and away from windows,” the center recommended.
Heavy rainfall is expected to continue throughout the morning, raising the potential for flash flooding. The National Weather Service had earlier predicted rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches across central to northern Florida, with localized areas potentially receiving as much as 18 inches.
