October 8th 2024.
According to satellite images, Hurricane Milton has been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico, just off the coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. This powerful storm has caused quite a stir, with more than a million people evacuating from Florida in preparation. The state is bracing for what could potentially be the most devastating hurricane it has seen in a hundred years.
As Milton rapidly moves towards the west-central coast, residents have been following evacuation orders for the past two days, resulting in jammed highways. In fact, the Florida Division of Emergency Management's executive director, Kevin Guthrie, reported that over a million people have been instructed to leave the area. The storm is expected to make a direct hit on Tampa Bay, prompting many residents to board up their homes and businesses.
Meteorologists are closely monitoring Milton's path, as it was initially classified as a Category 5 storm on Monday. Its strength was so extreme that it sparked discussions about creating a new Category 6 designation. However, as of late Monday, the storm had been downgraded to a Category 4 with sustained winds of 180mph and gusts reaching over 200mph. Meteorologist Noah Bergren expressed his amazement at the storm's intensity, stating that it was "nothing short of astronomical."
Bergren struggled to find the words to accurately describe the small eye and incredible power of Hurricane Milton. As the storm moves closer to land, it is approaching the limits of what Earth's atmosphere over the ocean can produce. By Tuesday morning, Milton had weakened slightly to a Category 4, with maximum sustained winds of 155mph. This is just below the threshold of 157mph for a Category 5 storm, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
The scale, developed by a civil engineer in 1971, rates hurricanes from 1 to 5, with increments of about 20mph. However, some researchers have suggested adding a Category 6 for wind speeds over 192mph, citing the potential effects of climate change. Despite this, the National Hurricane Center has stated that they do not plan to modify the existing scale. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter agrees, stating that there is no evidence to suggest that adding a Category 6 would improve preparation or decision-making.
As Milton continues its path, it is expected to make landfall on late Wednesday or early Thursday. This has prompted the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department's Aquatics Division to take action, with about 20 volunteers distributing over 2,000 sandbags to help protect over 200 residents. The storm's strength and potential impact have caused great concern, with weatherman John Morales even becoming emotional as he warned viewers of the "horrific" hurricane.
While it is predicted to weaken as it approaches land, Hurricane Milton is still incredibly powerful. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter explains, "Even though it is expected to weaken upon approach, it is so incredibly strong right now." Other forecasts have even suggested that the storm could strengthen again before making landfall, adding to the already tense situation.
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