Hurricane Milton made a dramatic landfall this Wednesday near Siesta Key, slicing through Florida's Gulf Coast as a formidable Category 3 storm. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reports that Milton unleashed powerful winds, a deadly storm surge, and triggered potential flooding across large swathes of the Sunshine State.
Fueled by unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Milton surged to Category 5 status not once, but twice, showcasing the intense energy powering this hurricane. Siesta Key, a picturesque barrier island with pristine white-sand beaches and around 5,500 residents, bore the brunt of Milton’s arrival. Located approximately 113 kilometers south of Tampa, the island has been a hotspot, despite Tampa itself avoiding a direct hit. However, the surrounding areas, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Fort Myers, are grappling with dangerous storm surges and relentless winds.
The impact was immediate and widespread. Nearly 700,000 residents in Florida experienced power outages as Milton made its way inland, according to PowerOutage.us. The storm surge threatened to devastate densely populated regions along the Gulf Coast, putting local communities and infrastructure at significant risk.
As Hurricane Milton sweeps through Florida, residents and officials are bracing for ongoing challenges. Emergency responses are underway to restore power and ensure the safety of those affected, highlighting the resilience and preparedness of Florida’s communities in the face of such powerful natural disasters.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
