Hurricane Milton strengthens to Category 5 as Florida prepares evacuation zones

Hurricane Milton has intensified into a Category 4 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported on Monday morning. Maximum sustained winds are estimated to be around 150 mph.

According to the Associated Press, about 7 million people are now being urged to evacuate Florida, which is still recovering from the devastation left by Hurricane Helene last week. Milton's projected path suggests it could make landfall in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday evening and remain a hurricane as it continues moving northeastward across the state.

As evacuation orders were issued, meteorologists warned of an 8- to 12-foot storm surge in Tampa Bay and widespread flooding from 5 to 10 inches of rain in mainland Florida and the Keys, with some areas potentially receiving up to 15 inches. The Tampa metro area, which is home to over 3.2 million residents, is particularly vulnerable.

“It’s a huge population. It’s very exposed, very inexperienced, and that’s a losing proposition,” remarked MIT meteorology professor Kerry Emanuel. “I always thought Tampa would be the city to worry about most.”

Hurricane and storm surge watches were in effect for much of Florida's west coast, and Lake Okeechobee was also under a hurricane watch. Parts of Mexico’s Yucatan state were issued a hurricane warning as they prepared for potential impacts.

Milton's rapid intensification was observed over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, with the National Hurricane Center reporting maximum sustained winds of 175 mph. At midday, the storm's centre was located about 700 miles southwest of Tampa, moving east-southeast at 9 mph.

The Tampa Bay area is still recovering from Helene, which caused 12 fatalities and extensive damage along barrier islands from St. Petersburg to Clearwater. In an attempt to clear debris from Helene, over 300 vehicles gathered but were stalled by a locked landfill gate. Troopers reportedly had to break it open with a rope tied to a pickup truck.

“We don’t have time for bureaucracy and red tape,” DeSantis stated.

In preparation for Milton, lifeguards in Pinellas County removed beach chairs and other potential projectiles, while stoves and furniture lay in heaps awaiting collection. Belleair Beach resident Sarah Steslicki expressed frustration at the delayed debris collection.

“They’ve screwed around and haven’t picked the debris up, and now they’re scrambling to get it picked up,” she said. “If this one does hit, it’s going to be flying missiles. Stuff’s going to be floating and flying in the air.”

Hillsborough County has ordered evacuations for areas adjacent to Tampa Bay, as well as all mobile and manufactured homes, to be completed by Tuesday night.

President Biden approved an emergency declaration for Florida, with U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announcing that 7,000 federal workers had been mobilised, marking one of the largest federal personnel mobilisations in history.

Milton’s impending arrival also revived memories of Hurricane Irma in 2017, when around 7 million people were advised to evacuate, resulting in massive traffic congestion. Some residents vowed never to evacuate again.

By Monday morning, several gas stations in Fort Myers and Tampa were already out of fuel. However, DeSantis assured that more fuel was on the way, with the state stockpiling hundreds of thousands of gallons of gasoline and diesel.

A steady stream of vehicles headed north towards the Florida Panhandle on Interstate 75 as residents heeded evacuation orders. Conversely, traffic clogged the southbound lanes as others sought refuge in Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

Despite experiencing over 4 feet of flooding from Helene, Tanya Marunchak was uncertain whether to evacuate. While she wished to leave, her husband believed their three-story home was sturdy enough to withstand Milton.

“We lost all our cars, all our furniture. The first floor was completely destroyed,” Marunchak reflected. “This is the oddest weather predicament that there has ever been.”

Hillsborough Fire Rescue Chief Jason Dougherty warned that failure to evacuate could endanger first responders. “If you remain there, you could die, and my men and women could die trying to rescue you,” he said.

Milton’s wind speed increased by 92 mph in just 24 hours, a rate surpassed only by Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007. Colorado State University researcher Phil Klotzbach explained that the storm's rapid strengthening was due to its small “pinhole eye,” similar to Wilma’s.

The storm is likely experiencing an eye wall replacement cycle, which typically forms a new eye and expands the storm, though it may weaken wind speeds. Additionally, the unusually warm Gulf of Mexico is providing ample fuel for Milton's intensity.

The last Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the continental U.S. was Michael in 2018.

In light of the approaching storm, school activities in Pinellas County have been cancelled, and schools are being converted into shelters. Tampa officials have opened city garages for residents wishing to protect their vehicles from flooding.

All road tolls in west-central Florida have been suspended. St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport plans to close after the last flight on Tuesday, while Tampa International Airport will halt operations for both airline and cargo flights starting Tuesday. Orlando International Airport, the seventh busiest in the nation, will cease operations on Wednesday morning.

Walt Disney World announced it would continue to operate as usual for the time being.

The current weather situation marks a significant event, as it has been two decades since Florida faced so many storms in such a short span. In 2004, five storms struck the state within six weeks, including three hurricanes that caused severe damage to central Florida.

Various parts of Florida's Gulf Coast are still recovering from recent storms. The Fort Myers area is still rebuilding from Hurricane Ian, which caused $112 billion in damage in 2022, while the Big Bend region has faced three hurricanes in just over a year, including Helene.

Don Girard, just 100 feet from the water on Fort Myers Beach, prepared his three-story home for Milton after it was flooded by Helene two weeks prior. “It’s been difficult. I’m not going to lie to you,” Girard said. “The last couple of years have been pretty bad.”