Hurricane Milton hit Florida’s west coast as a Category 3 storm with winds reaching up to 120 mph. This was significantly weaker than when it was a Category 5 storm with 180 mph winds while traveling across the Gulf. The storm made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County, just south of Tampa Bay. Had it hit the heart of the bay or north of it, it could have resulted in one of the most dangerous storm surges in US history due to the bay’s shape and shallow waters offshore.
Tampa Bay’s geographical features make it particularly susceptible to dangerous storm surges. The shallow waters cause waves to pile up as they approach land, while the bay’s shape and opening further compress the water. Most communities around the bay are at elevations below 10 feet, so a 13-foot storm surge could leave hundreds of thousands of homes underwater. There were fears that a direct hit to Tampa Bay could lead to a disaster similar to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, where levees broke and caused massive flooding that resulted in over 1,300 deaths.
Over 3 million people living around Tampa Bay were ordered to evacuate before Hurricane Milton made landfall. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warned that those who chose to stay would be risking their lives. Milton became the second strongest Gulf hurricane in history just a day after forming off the Yucatan Peninsula. While its strength decreased as it approached Florida, its size increased rapidly in the final hours before landfall, reaching over 250 miles in diameter from its original 175 miles.
Although Hurricane Milton is causing significant impacts across Florida, it is expected to move out into the Atlantic Ocean, providing some relief to the state. This comes just two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Florida, causing severe flooding and at least 230 deaths. Milton’s effects are being felt across the entirety of Florida, and forecasters are monitoring its movement closely to ensure the safety of residents. With the storm’s track taking it out into the Atlantic, the hope is that it will not cause as much destruction as initially feared.
