Hurricane Milton hits Florida with 120 mph winds
Milton's landfall brings severe weather to Florida's west coast
Hurricane Milton struck Florida’s west coast Wednesday night, bringing a “life-threatening” storm surge and winds of 120 mph. The storm made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County at around 8:30 p.m. as a Category 3 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. This was a significant reduction from the 180 mph winds it had as a Category 5 storm while crossing the Gulf of Mexico.
The storm landed just south of Tampa Bay, which was fortunate. A hit directly on the bay or north of it could have caused one of the most dangerous storm surges in US history. Tampa Bay’s shallow offshore waters and the bay’s shape can push waves toward land, increasing their height. Most surrounding areas are below 10 feet in elevation, and a 13-foot surge could submerge hundreds of thousands of homes.
A direct hit to Tampa Bay could have rivalled the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which led to catastrophic flooding and over 1,300 deaths. Over 3 million Tampa Bay residents were ordered to evacuate. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warned, “If you choose to stay… you are going to die.”
5 PM Update: Milton continues to weaken. Sustained winds down to 120 MPH. Looks like the eye will come on shore near Sarasota this evening. That means the max storm surge will NOT be Tampa. 9 to 13 foot surge likely around Sarasota and points just south of there. #Milton pic.twitter.com/44MK4EAU51
— Tony Pann (@TonyPannWBAL) October 9, 2024
Milton made history as the second strongest Gulf hurricane, reaching this status just a day after forming off the Yucatan Peninsula. Its lowest pressure, a key indicator of a hurricane’s power, peaked at 897 millibars, just behind Hurricane Rita’s 895 mb in 2005. For comparison, Katrina’s lowest pressure was 902 mb, with winds of 175 mph.
Although Milton weakened while approaching Florida’s coast, it expanded rapidly, growing from 175 miles in diameter to over 250 miles in just a few hours. Milton’s impact is felt across Florida, just two weeks after Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding and at least 230 deaths in parts of the state.
Unlike Helene, which moved north into the US South, Milton will move northeast, exiting Florida into the Atlantic Ocean.
What Other Media Are Saying
- AP News reports on Hurricane Milton’s landfall in Florida, highlighting evacuation orders, potential storm surge, and residents’ varying responses despite previous hurricanes’ devastation in the Tampa Bay region.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What category was Hurricane Milton when it made landfall in Florida?
Category 3 with 120 mph winds.
Where did Hurricane Milton make landfall?
Near Siesta Key in Sarasota County.
How many people were ordered to evacuate around Tampa Bay?
Over 3 million people.
How does Tampa Bay’s geography affect storm surges?
Shallow waters and bay shape cause waves to pile up.
What was Hurricane Milton’s lowest pressure recorded?
897 millibars.
