Hurricane Milton has that quickly strengthened to category 4 hurricane on a path toward Florida’s population centers including Tampa and Orlando, which threatens dangerous storm surge in Tampa Bay and sets the stage for possible mass evacuations less than two weeks after catastrophic Hurricane Helene flooded the coastline.
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Milton quickly strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday and was forecast to become a Category 5 storm towards Floridathat threatens dangerous storm surge in Tampa Bay and sets the stage for possible mass evacuations less than two weeks after catastrophic Hurricane Helene flooded the coastline.
A hurricane warning was issued for parts of the Mexican state of Yucatán, and much of the west coast of Florida was under hurricane and storm surge watches. Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, which often floods during heavy storms, was also under a hurricane watch.
Milton was a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph over the southern Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said. It was forecast to become a Category 5 hurricane later Monday with winds of more than 155 miles per hour and a major hurricane over the eastern Gulf.
The center could make landfall in the United States on Wednesday Tampa Bay area, and it could remain a hurricane as it moves through central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday it was imperative that Helene’s messes be cleaned up before Milton’s arrival so they don’t become dangerous flying projectiles.
More than 300 vehicles picked up debris Sunday but encountered a closed landfill gate when they tried to dispose of it. State troopers used a rope tied to a pickup truck and broke it open, DeSantis said.
“We don’t have time for bureaucracy and red tape,” DeSantis said. “We have to get the job done.”
Milton quickly strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on Monday toward Florida’s population centers including Tampa and Orlando, which threatens dangerous storm surge in Tampa Bay and sets the stage for possible mass evacuations less than two weeks after catastrophic Hurricane Helene flooded the coastline.
The storm is expected to remain at about its current strength for the next few days, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. A hurricane warning was issued for parts of the Mexican state of Yucatán, and much of the west coast of Florida was under hurricane and storm surge watches.
Milton had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph over the southern Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane center said.
The center could make landfall in the United States on Wednesday Tampa Bay area, and it could remain a hurricane as it moves through central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean. That would largely spare other states destroyed by Helenekilling at least 230 people en route from Florida to the Appalachians.
Forecasters warned of a possible storm surge of 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.6 meters) in Tampa Bay and said flash and river flooding could result from 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters) of rain on mainland Florida and the Keys . with as much as 38 centimeters in some places.
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