Hurricane Milton Devastates Florida, Leaving 3 Million Without Electricity
Hurricane Milton, which was downgraded to a Category 1 storm, moved away from Florida's east coast early this morning. The hurricane made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, a barrier island adjacent to Sarasota, at around 8:30 pm ET on Wednesday. The storm's powerful winds and heavy rains resulted in widespread power outages, affecting over 3 million customers in the state.
Hurricane Milton's Current Status
As of 5 am ET, the National Hurricane Center reported that Milton's eye was approximately ten miles northeast of Cape Canaveral and was moving into the Atlantic. The hurricane still had maximum sustained winds of over 85 mph, maintaining its status as a dangerous Category 1 storm.
Tampa experienced powerful winds, with some areas recording wind speeds of over 100 mph during the overnight hours following the hurricane's landfall.
Power Outages and Damage Assessment
As Milton moved across central Florida, it caused hurricane-force winds and flash floods, leading to more than 3.25 million power outages, according to the latest data from Poweroutage.US, a power tracking website.
Archie Collins, President and CEO of Tampa Electric, stated in an early morning interview with CNN's Kasie Hunt that an unprecedented number of their customers were without power. Collins mentioned that once daylight came, survey crews would have a better understanding of the damage to the grid.
Collins highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, "The eyewall did travel right across Hillsborough County, and that is a game changer. These were the strongest winds that we believe have been experienced in Hillsborough County in as long as anyone can remember. The damage out there I think is going to be significantly more than our customers have experienced in their lifetimes."
Visual Evidence of the Damage
Footage of the storm damage was shared online, including a construction crane that collapsed and fell into the Tampa Bay Times building, causing catastrophic damage and flooding. Other images showed the aftermath of the storm at various locations, including a collapsed corner of a building, homes inundated by storm surge, and the roof of Tropicana Field being ripped off.
The Future Path of Hurricane Milton
Forecast models indicate the future path of Milton. Fox Weather noted that the intensity of Milton made it the fifth-strongest cyclone on record in the Atlantic Basin, only surpassed by Wilma (2005), Gilbert (1988) Labor Day (1935), and Rita (2005).
The double impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton within a few weeks has had a devastating effect on some Florida residents.
Bottom Line
The devastating effects of Hurricane Milton on Florida are a stark reminder of the power of nature. The storm has left millions without power and caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. As the state begins to assess the full extent of the damage, one can only hope for a swift recovery. What are your thoughts on this event? Please share this article with your friends and let us know your views. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6 pm.