...
By Kaitlin Lewis and Mandy Taheri
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The eye of the storm moved into Sarasota County along Florida's Gulf Coast at around 8:30 p.m. ET Wednesday. The NHC said that Milton has sustained speeds of 120 mph and moving at about 15 mph.
The storm, which was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday, brings with it devastating storm surge and high winds to some areas still reeling from Hurricane Helene, which hit Florida on September 26 as a Category 4 storm.
Read More on News
Storm surge warnings indicate there is a "danger of life-threatening inundation" from rising water. Millions of residents in the storm's path were told to evacuate ahead of the storm making landfall.
The combination of a dangerous storm surge and high tide could reach between 10 and 15 feet above the ground in the region between Anna Maria Island and Boca Grande, Florida. Other regions, like Tampa Bay, Boca Grande to Bonita Beach, and Charlotte Harbor are expected to see water swell between 8 to 12 feet.
The NHC warned: "If you are in the Storm Surge Warning area, this is an extremely life-threatening situation. The time to evacuate, if told to do so by local officials, is quickly coming to a close." Once the storm gets close enough, evacuating can be fatal as people can be trapped in the dangerous weather conditions.
More From Newsweek Vault: What Is an Emergency Fund?
The NHC said in an update at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday that the "northern eyewall of Hurricane Milton is beginning to move onshore of the Florida Gulf Coast near Tampa and St. Petersburg where an Extreme Wind Warning is now in effect. Please shelter in place as these extremely dangerous hurricane-force winds overspread the region." The center is issuing updated advisories on the hour here.
An earlier Wednesday advisory said that "Tropical-storm-force winds are just offshore and now is the time to stay inside and away from windows. Listen for updates and be ready in case you lose electrical power. Keep a battery-powered radio, charged cell phone and flashlight handy."
The NHC warned that "tornadic supercells" are expected to "sweep across Southern Florida peninsula." Additionally, the region is expected to experience, "life-threatening flash and urban flooding" as well as "devastating hurricane-force winds."
More From Newsweek Vault: 5 Steps to Build an Emergency Fund Today
Milton's impacts were felt much sooner than the eye's landfall. The NHC predicted that tropic-storm-force winds could be felt along Florida's west coast starting at 2 p.m. ET Wednesday. Tornado warnings were also issued throughout central and southern Florida on Wednesday.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Ferrick told Newsweek via email Wednesday that forecasters "expect conditions along the west coast of Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, to deteriorate during the day Wednesday."
...
"The worst of the life-threatening conditions along the west coast of Florida, in terms of storm surge and destructive winds, will likely be from Wednesday evening into the early morning hours of Thursday," Ferrick added.
The storm was also expected to double in size as it continued to approach western Florida. National Weather Service meteorologist Christianne Pearce previously told Newsweek that Milton would begin to transition "right before it reaches the coast," with the storm growing slightly weaker but larger.
"We do expect that Milton will grow in size as it moves toward Florida over the next 24-36 hours," Ferrick also said via email. "So even though we do anticipate some loss in wind intensity the wind field will likely be more expansive and impact most of the Florida peninsula."
Update 10/9/24, 8:42 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with new information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines