Category 4 Hurricane Milton Bears Down On Gulf Coast Of Florida
Milton, a strong Category four Storm, rapidly makes its way to the west coast of Florida. The Category 4 hurricane was expected to makes landfall Wednesday night, forcing mass evacuations of more than a half-million people in the region in what might end up being the largest such evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017. Tampa, Sarasota and Fort Myers along the Florida Coast are all expecting strong effects.
Milton undergoing rapid intensification, possible damage
On Monday, Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified and is now a major threat to well-populated coastal regions. The National Weather Service has said that, if Milton continues on its current track, it could be the most powerful storm in more than 100 years to hit Tampa Bay. The storm is expected to trigger a horrific ocean surge, which will inundate areas under 10 to 15 feet of water. It is expected to take billions of dollars in repairs and recovery from the massive devastation that occurred.
Between hurricanes, Tampa Bay
Storm surges from hurricanes are the greatest threat to Tampa Bay and the surrounding Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center has said storm surges of 8 to 12 feet are possible in Tampa Bay and that the region could get 4 to 6 inches of rain. The region is at risk because of its special topographical features, such as a higher storm surge.
We are talking about Tampa and the Gulf of Mexico coastline which carries a shallow sloping shelf. It traps stormwater and forces it to filter inland rather than push directly from the coast. That’s a stiff dropoff compared to Florida’s east coast, where the ocean bottom plunges quickly just a couple miles offshore. This serves to make storm surges from a hurricane more pronounced on the Gulf side of the storm, even if both sides experience wind gusts of equal force.
The Danger of Storm Surges
While Hurricane Milton is tracking right at the west coast, deadly surges can still flow through Tampa Bay areas as well. Sometime last week, Hurricane Helene hit 150 miles from Tampa and brought up to 5 to 8 feet of storm surge in drowning incidents.
Philip Klotzbach, a hurricane expert, said of storm surges: “You can have the same storm, the same intensity but very different surges.” Tampa’s land survey makes the city even more susceptible to those storm surges, increasing the risks of flooding and high damage in the event of a storm.
Preparing for Milton’s Impact
With Tropical Storm Milton moving closer to Florida, officials are getting the word out that residents should prepare for severe weather and evacuate if asked to leave. With storm surges, floods and high winds anticipated, it is important to learn more about the hurricane and prepare for the worst.
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