Hurricane Milton today: this is its trajectory

Hurricane Milton, a Category 4 storm, has grown in size in recent hours on its way to the west coast of Florida, a state in the southeastern United States where the first tornadoes have already occurred and the arrival of this powerful cyclone is expected, the first of its kind in more than a century.

According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Milton has weakened somewhat and by this afternoon had maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour. However, it has grown in size and its tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 400 kilometers from its center.

In an update issued at 3:00 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT), the weather center said that these tropical storm winds are already beginning to move inland on the west coast of Florida, where tornadoes have also occurred moments before in the central and southern parts of the state.

Hurricane Milton advances towards Florida

Hurricane Milton is moving toward Florida today as an “extremely dangerous ” Category 4 storm, after having reached Category 5 strength twice in the past 72 hours.

The storm, which originated off the coast of Yucatan in Mexico, is expected to hit the area south of Tampa between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, with particular attention to the towns of Bradenton and Sarasota .

However, meteorologists warn that the forecast could change at any moment.

As the state recovers from damage caused by Helene’s winds and storm surge , Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 51 of Florida’s 67 counties.

Additionally, mandatory evacuation orders have been implemented in 15 of these counties, which could result in millions of people leaving their homes.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has been clear in her warnings: “ If you decide to stay in one of those evacuation zones, you are going to die ,” she told CNN in an interview.

In the face of such statements and the concern expressed by President Biden, Florida residents are preparing to face another monumental hurricane in less than two weeks.

🇺🇸🌀 | ÚLTIMO MINUTO

HURACÁN MILTON: Emiten Aviso de Tornado para el condado Miami-Dade con expiración en 12 horas y 35 minutos.
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👀👉🏻 La cobertura más completa en @UHN_Plus. ¡Gracias a los medios que nos están mencionado como fuente en sus reportes! 🤝🏻 pic.twitter.com/r8Z6rDcfgK

— UHN PLUS (@UHN_Plus) October 9, 2024

Hurricane Milton Path

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida as a major and dangerous storm late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to a bulletin from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued at 11:00 a.m. ET.

The system was located 160 miles west-southwest of Fort Myers and 190 miles southwest of Tampa . Milton is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 145 mph and moving northeast at 17 mph.

In a bulletin issued at 12:00 PM EST, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) urged the public to ensure their safety ahead of the arrival of strong winds and possible flooding . It is crucial that citizens take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their property from the impending storm.

Additionally, the Center stressed the importance of having access to a variety of sources for weather updates . Accurate and timely information is essential to staying informed about changes in the hurricane’s path and any alerts that may be issued.

12PM #Milton Position update: Have multiple ways to receive weather warnings throughout the event. Visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for the latest pic.twitter.com/wt7WldRSql

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 9, 2024

Hurricane Milton in real time

It’s been less than two weeks since Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida’s Big Bend coast on Sept. 26, wreaking havoc as it made its way through the Gulf. As it made its way north, it killed 12 people in Pinellas County and left significant damage to homes and businesses in the Tampa Bay area.

So far, 25 deaths related to Helene have been confirmed in Florida. In addition, 234 people have lost their lives in six different states as a result of the storm’s devastating effects.

Hurricane classification according to their category

Hurricanes are classified into 5 categories based on their wind speeds, using the Saffir-Simpson scale. Categories range from 1 (minimal) to 5 (catastrophic):

1. Category 1 : Winds of 74-95 mph, causing minor damage.
2. Category 2 : Winds of 96-110 mph, causing moderate damage.
3. Category 3 : Winds of 111-129 mph, severe damage.
4. Category 4 : Winds of 130-156 mph, significant destruction.
5. Category 5 : Winds over 157 mph, catastrophic destruction.

These categories are assigned by the strength of the winds and the potential damage they can cause to structures and populations.