GUWAHATI: Hurricane Milton intensified to a Category 5 storm on October 8 as it swept across the Gulf of Mexico, heading for Florida’s peninsula. Millions of residents scrambled to finalise preparations and evacuate high-risk areas.
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According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton's storm surge poses an "extremely life-threatening" risk to Florida’s western coast, with powerful winds and heavy rainfall expected to impact areas far beyond the projected path. Hurricane warnings have been issued across the state, with maps showing widespread red and orange alerts.
On October 7 Milton experienced a rapid intensification, with sustained winds reaching 180 mph. By Tuesday morning, the winds briefly slowed before increasing again to 160 mph later that evening. Though some weakening is expected before the storm makes landfall Wednesday night, John Cangialosi, a specialist at the National Hurricane Center, cautioned that Milton could still be one of the most destructive hurricanes to ever strike west-central Florida. The storm is expected to make landfall between Tarpon Springs and Cape Coral, based on the official forecast.
Richard Pasch, a senior hurricane specialist, emphasised the uncertainty of pinpointing the exact landfall location, noting that even 24 hours out, the margin of error remains around 48 miles. Milton is predicted to travel northeast across Florida, exiting between Daytona Beach and Stuart by Thursday morning. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to act quickly, warning that time is running out before the storm hits, likely as a Category 3. The National Weather Service in Tampa also cautioned that Milton could become the most powerful hurricane to strike Tampa Bay in over a century.