Hurricane Milton: A Serious Threat to Florida

Hurricane Milton's Downgrade and Impact

Hurricane Milton has been downgraded to category 4 (on the Saffir-Simpson scale which has 5 levels) as of Tuesday. However, it is still classified as an 'extremely dangerous' hurricane until it makes landfall in Florida, according to the American National Hurricane Center (NHC). With winds gusting at 250 km/h, Milton is expected to hit Florida, the third most populous state, late Wednesday into Thursday after skirting the northern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday.

Preparations and Warnings

• The NHC had predicted on Monday that the storm would be 'the worst' to hit the Tampa region, a major city in Florida, in over 100 years.
• Initially, wind speeds were anticipated to reach 270 km/h.
• Milton is set to cross the state from southwest to northeast.
• Of Florida's 67 counties, 51 are under a state of emergency.
• Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents in high-risk areas, 'You have time to leave. So, please do.'

Near Orlando, Disney World announced it would remain open on Tuesday. In Tampa, zoo staff hurried to evacuate animals to safe zones. Atlantic temperatures have been consistently at record high levels for over a year, according to data from the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The agency had warned at the end of May that the hurricane season, which runs from early June to late November, would be extraordinary this year in the region.

Ongoing Challenges

Milton arrives while rescue efforts are still underway for many victims of Hurricane Helene, the deadliest storm to strike the continental United States since Katrina in 2005, causing at least 230 fatalities across several states.