Hurricane Milton live: Florida residents warned ‘if you stay you’ll die’ as Category 4 monster storm heads for US
Hurricane Milton weakens to Category 4 but poses ‘even more danger’ as it continues to grow in size ahead of Wednesday’s projected landfall
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A Florida mayor issued a stark warning that residents will die if they don’t evacuate as Hurricane Milton races towards the state’s west coast.
The potential “once in a lifetime” storm rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane on Monday with sustained winds surpassing 180mph, before slowing to Category 4 on Tuesday.
The National Hurricane Center has warned that Milton may regain strength and grow in size, posing “even more danger” as it is expected to make landfall in Florida by Wednesday evening, slamming into the densely populated Tampa Bay.
Tampa mayor Jane Castor told CNN that if residents choose to “stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re gonna die”. Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of the Sunshine State almost two weeks ago, was a “wake-up call,” she said, before adding that Milton could be “literally catastrophic”.
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration on Monday after pledging “life-saving resources in advance of the storm,” the day prior.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday that the state has stocked up on millions of gallons of fuel, truckloads of food, water and medical supplies, Starlinks and flood protection systems to safeguard “critical infrastructure”.
Thousands of UK tourists face Florida disruption as Hurricane Milton poses ‘extremely serious threat’
Mapped: Charting Hurricane Milton’s path as it heads for Florida
‘The roar is like you’re inside a 747 jet engine’: What is it like being in a Category 5 hurricane?
Florida braces for Hurricane Milton as communities recover from Helene and 2022's Ian
What to know about Hurricane Milton as it speeds toward Florida
Trump slams Harris for not visiting hurricane hit North Carolina - while she is there
Donald Trump hit out at Kamala Harris for not visiting hurricane hit North Carolina - while the vice president was there.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said: “They are offering $750 for the worst hurricane ever, but she shouldn’t be there.
“She should be in North Carolina, it is so bad.”
The Fox News reporter replies: “She was there today I believe, for three hours.”
Watch:
Trump slams Harris for not visiting hurricane hit North Carolina - while she is there
Donald Trump hit out at Kamala Harris for not visiting hurricane hit North Carolina - while the vice president was there. Harris announced $750 support for Americans hit by deadly Hurricane Helene earlier this month. The hurricane caused devastation through Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia after making landfall on 26 September. The death toll has now surpassed 200 and losses attributable to the storm may exceed $30 billion. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said: “They are offering $750 for the worst hurricane ever, but she shouldn’t be there. “She should be in North Carolina, it is so bad.” The Fox News reporter replies: “She was there today I believe, for three hours.”
Tracking Milton: Map shows probable path of hurricane
What is happening at Orlando’s airports?
Florida’s main holiday airport, Orlando International Airport, will halt commercial passenger flights from 8am ET on Wednesday.
“The airport, in collaboration with federal and airline partners, agreed to cease commercial operations to prevent aircraft from operating under unsafe weather conditions for landings and take-offs,” MCO said in a statement.
The airport said its hunkering down with storm preparations as Hurricane Milton races towards Florida’s west coast, which is expected to make landfall on Wednesday night.
“Hurricane preparations throughout the facility, including sandbagging doors and tying down all boarding bridges, are being finalized,” it added.
Melbourne Orlando International Airport will close to commercial flight operations at 2pm on Wednesday and will reopen at 9am on Friday.
Mapped: Charting Hurricane Milton’s path as it heads for Florida
Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida’s Gulf coast on Wednesday bringing devastating winds, life-threatening storm surge and flash floods to communities already battered by Hurricane Helene.
Milton rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane on Monday with sustained winds surpassing a brutal 180mph, before slowing to Category 4 on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center announced. James Liddell is tracking Milton as it heads towards the Sunshine State.
Mapped: Charting Hurricane Milton’s path as it heads for Florida
Floridians are preparing for a second ‘extremely powerful’ hurricane to slam into its west coast in as many weeks after Helene made landfall last month
Floridians to brace for up to 18in rainfall and 15ft storm surge
The National Hurricane Center has warned of up to 18in of localized rainfall and 15ft of storm surge in certain regions of Florida.
Northern portions of the Florida Peninsula are set to see localized amounts of rainfall reaching 18in, the NHC announced in its latest public advisory. The Keys are due to be doused in up to 4in through to thursday.
“This rainfall brings the risk of life-threatening flash, urban and aerial flooding along with moderate to major river flooding,” the Center said.
Both Tampa Bay and the Anclote River through to Englewood could see between 10ft to 15ft of storm surge – causing “normally dry areas” to become flooded.
Milton to remain ‘extremely dangerous’ hurricane upon landfall – despite initial weakening
Milton is expected to make landfall as an “extremely dangerous hurricane” through landfall, despite it weakening from a Category 5 to a Category 4 hurricane.
Hurricane Milton is anticipated to slam into Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday night near the already storm-torn Tampa Bay region, the National Hurricane Center said.
It currently sees sustained winds of 155mph – falling from 180mph-plus on Monday evening. Milton is situated about 560 miles from Tampa.
“While fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida,” the NHC said in its latest public advisory.
Kamala Harris issues Hurricane Milton warning to residents
Kamala Harris has issued an urgent warning to residents as “life-threatening” Hurricane Milton heads for Florida.
“I cannot stress enough to all the folks in Florida, in the Tampa area, please listen to evacuation orders. Please listen to your local officials because I know a lot of folks out there have survived these hurricanes before. This one is going to be very, very serious.”
Watch:
Harris issues Hurricane Milton warning as ‘life-threatening’ storm heads for Florida
Kamala Harris has issued an urgent warning to residents as “life-threatening” Hurricane Milton heads for Florida. The potential “once in a lifetime” storm is bearing down on the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to remain “extremely dangerous” as it makes landfall in Florida by Wednesday, hitting the densely populated Tampa Bay area first. With air pressure in the storm’s eye dropping to a near-record low 897 millibars and winds reaching 160mph, Milton is now the fifth most intense Atlantic hurricane on record. Speaking on Tuesday (7 October), the vice president said: “I cannot stress enough to all the folks in Florida, in the Tampa area, please listen to evacuation orders. Please listen to your local officials because I know a lot of folks out there have survived these hurricanes before. This one is going to be very, very serious.”
‘Extremely powerful’ Hurricane Milton poses ‘serious threat’ as it races towards Florida
Photos: Tourists evacuate before Hurricane Milton
How ocean heat acted as 'rocket fuel' for Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton went from Category 1 to Category 5 within hours on Monday, shocking even forecasters.
Milton became the fifth most intense Atlantic hurricane on record with winds of 180mph. Even though the storm has weakened slightly, experts worry it can regain its strength.
The rapid intensification of storms has become a norm in recent years as greenhouse gases help trap heat in the atmosphere, creating record-breaking temperatures on land and in oceans, resulting in supercharged storms.
"Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified at extreme levels over exceptionally warm waters that reach hundreds of feet deep in the Bay of Campeche and Gulf of Mexico," AccuWeather lead Hurricane expert Alex DaSilva said.
"These deep, warm waters of are acting as 'rocket fuel' for the storm, supporting its rapid growth."
"The ocean heat content is at the highest level on record for this time of year in the Gulf, despite the recent passage of Helene."
Researchers have found that since 1970s, the number of storms escalating into category 4 or 5 hurricanes has roughly doubled in the North Atlantic.
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