October 14th 2024.
The recent hurricane, Milton, has caused quite a stir in Florida, especially along the coastline. New satellite images have revealed the extent to which Milton has reshaped the state's beautiful beaches. As a powerful Category 3 storm, Milton made landfall near Sarasota on Wednesday night, leaving many experts predicting that it would cause significant physical changes to the area.
The photos captured by the satellite have confirmed just that - the hurricane has shifted some parts of the coast and even split some beaches in half. It's hard to believe that some of Florida's picturesque beaches now have fresh breaks in the middle. One such example is Sanibel Island, which now has brown and white plumes along its coastline after being hit by Hurricane Milton. In fact, the storm even created a new inlet near Stump Pass Beach State Park on Manasota Key, as observed by storm chaser Brian Emfinger.
Further north, Sanibel Island's neighbor, Captiva Island, also experienced a similar change, with more sand accumulating on its shore. According to Fox Forecast Center meteorologist Cody Braud, this is due to the sand and sediment being pushed back into the Gulf of Mexico by the storm. He explained that when hurricanes like Milton make landfall, they bring in a lot of sand and water, which then recedes and causes a reversal of the process, resulting in an enhancement of the shoreline.
The draining of water could also create new channels, potentially cutting some beaches in half. As Braud pointed out, the water tries to find any way possible to navigate out, leading to these changes in the landscape. The US Geological Survey had issued a warning that Milton could flood a significant portion of Florida's beaches, leaving only 5% untouched. This was a considerable concern, especially because Hurricane Helene had just battered the same region before Milton.
In fact, the US Geological Survey even stated that this is the most severe level of coastal change that the state has experienced. As President Joe Biden toured the affected areas on Sunday with federal, state, and local officials, he was briefed on the destruction caused by Milton. As of Monday afternoon, the hurricane had claimed the lives of at least 22 people. During his visit, President Biden also shared that the estimated damages caused by Milton were around $50 billion, significantly higher than the initial prediction.
It's worth noting that before Milton, Hurricane Helene had also caused significant damage to Florida and its neighboring states. Satellite images had shown a wide strip of land from Florida up into Georgia and the Carolinas, where millions of people were left without power. The effects of Helene were still visible in some areas, making it a challenging situation for those affected by both hurricanes. As Florida continues to recover from the destruction caused by Milton, it serves as a reminder of the devastating power of natural disasters.
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