Another hurricane heads straight for Florida

After the immense devastation caused by Hurricane Helene across much of the southeastern United States, resulting in more than 225 deaths, Hurricane Milton, which has intensified rapidly in the last 48 hours since forming to Category 5, is heading straight for Florida.

Breaking News: Hurricane Milton is now a Category 5, the strongest classification, less than 48 hours after forming in the Gulf of Mexico. Follow for live updates as the storm develops. https://t.co/NO0LNFdD6R

— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 7, 2024

Milton is expected to hit Florida on Wednesday, targeting heavily populated areas such as Orlando and Tampa Bay, just two weeks after the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.

In less than 48 hours, the storm intensified rapidly and unexpectedly. Experts had initially predicted that it could reach Category 3, but it finally went from Category 2 to Category 5 in just a few hours!

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned residents to prepare for the largest mass evacuation the state has seen in several years, heralding worrying intensity and devastation to come. Predictions of a Category 5 storm on impact also raise concerns about the consequences for communities.

Residents of areas recently hit by Hurricane Helene are still cleaning up, while the streets are cluttered with furniture and miscellaneous items that need to be thrown away due to the devastation.

Residents of Florida’s coastal communities are warned that storm surges, up to 12 feet high, could be deadly, worsening the situation in areas still trying to recover from the previous storm.

A state of emergency has been declared in the majority of Florida’s 65 counties. Authorities expect major disruptions, including flooding and power outages.

Floridians are preparing for the impending hurricane by filling sandbags, boarding up doors and windows, and stocking up on supplies.

Many experts and meteorologists associate the rapid intensity of Milton and Helene with climate change and favorable weather conditions, notably due to warming ocean waters, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico.