Fury from the Horizon: Florida Steels Itself for Hurricane Milton’s Onslaught

• Authorities issued a hurricane warning for the west coast of Florida

The Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniella Levine Cava, declared a state of emergency on Monday, October 7, due to the arrival of Milton, which continues to strengthen rapidly with maximum sustained winds of 285 kilometers per hour.

“We are working closely with the commission, cities and schools to make sure we are prepared for any impact,” Levine Cava said at a news conference.

Milton, a hurricane that has strengthened in record time, is now a category 5, the largest on the Saffir-Simpson scale, and its center is expected to make landfall probably on Wednesday near Tampa Bay, in Hillsborough County. (west coast of Florida).

Satellite photograph provided by the National Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | EFE/ National Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The hurricane is moving at a speed of 17 kilometers per hour and will cross almost all of Florida from west to east starting next Wednesday, according to the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Levine Cava added that, although Miami-Dade is not in the middle of Milton’s path, “there is concern that it is a major storm (…) with probable impacts that include rain, flooding and tropical storm force winds.”

In Miami Dade, several evacuation centers will open for people who reside in mobile homes and who decide to evacuate voluntarily.

However, the mayor urged residents to remain alert and warned that weather conditions could change as the powerful hurricane approaches.

Precautions in Florida due to Hurricane Milton

The governor of Florida, Republican Ron DeSantis, said during the afternoon of Monday, October 7 in a press conference that, since it cannot be anticipated how strong and the exact point where the hurricane will impact, it is necessary that the majority of Floridians take precautions.

“Today you have time to execute the emergency plan. You have time to make sure you, your family and your pets are safe. So please do it. This is not a storm you want to take risks in; We have to be prepared,” the governor insisted in his message.

The center of Milton is forecast to move near or just north of the Yucatan Peninsula tonight and Tuesday, cross the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approach the west coast of the Florida Peninsula on Wednesday, forecasters said. .

A family stocks up on provisions before the possible arrival of Hurricane Milton in Mexico | Photo: EFE/Lorenzo Hernández

“The potentially catastrophic” Category 5 Hurricane Milton will experience fluctuations, but “will remain an extremely dangerous hurricane until it makes landfall in Florida,” the NHC warned.

On alert for the hurricane

Authorities issued a hurricane warning for Florida’s west coast from Bonita Beach north to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Tampa Bay.

The counties of Hillsborough, where Tampa Bay, Pinellas and Pasco are located, on the west coast of Florida, also issued an evacuation order this Monday for various areas, as well as for all mobile homes, due to the arrival of Hurricane Milton .

At the moment, 33 counties are under hurricane warning and twenty due to storm surge.

Due to inclement weather, approaching Tropical Storm Milton, NASA is canceling events | Photo: EFE

The most recent forecasts predict flooding of between 3 and 4.5 meters above sea level in some parts of the region.

Not only is Florida preparing for the impact of Milton, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp warned that southern and coastal communities in that state could experience heavy rain and tropical storm conditions, which is why he has called residents of that area to be careful.

With information from EFE

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