As the Southeastern United States grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a new threat looms on the horizon.
Hurricane Milton, predicted to escalate to a Category 4 storm, is set to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday evening, barely a week after Helene wreaked havoc across six states. The death toll from Helene has reached 227, making it the second deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland in the past 50 years, surpassed only by the infamous Hurricane Katrina of 2005.
According to Newsweek, the National Hurricane Center's latest advisory, issued at 1:00 a.m. CDT on Monday, indicates that Milton is on track to become a "major hurricane" later in the day. This classification signifies a Category 3 storm, with wind speeds ranging from 111 to 129 miles per hour on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. However, like its predecessor Helene, Milton could potentially intensify to a Category 4 storm within the next few days.
AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter has warned that Hurricane Milton could be "a historic, once-in-a-lifetime storm for Floridians." In response to the impending threat, Florida's emergency management division has ordered evacuations. When Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, it was a Category 4 hurricane, while Katrina initially hit Florida as a Category 1 storm in 2005, only to intensify to Category 5 over the Gulf of Mexico.
Both Helene and Katrina unleashed winds of up to 140 miles per hour, with Katrina's top wind speed reaching a staggering 175 miles per hour. The hurricanes also brought with them storm surges and torrential rain. Helene flooded Asheville in North Carolina with nearly 14 inches of rainfall, while Katrina left 80 percent of New Orleans underwater.
The National Weather Service anticipates that Milton will raise water levels by two-to-four feet above ground level along the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, bringing large and destructive waves to coastal regions. It is also set to produce rainfall of two-to-four inches across portions of the northern Yucatan Peninsula.
In comparison, Helene's peak storm surge is estimated to have reached more than 15 feet above ground in the Florida Big Bend region, according to Weather Underground's post-storm modeling. Katrina's highest storm surge was recorded at 11.5 feet, while Philpot, in Florida, saw the storm's maximum rainfall of 7.80 inches.
The National Hurricane Center has issued a 'Hurricane Watch' for Celestun to Cabo Catoche, indicating that hurricane conditions are possible. A 'Tropical Storm Warning' is also in place for Celestun to Cancun, suggesting that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours.
In preparation for the impending storm, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 35 counties on Saturday night. As the residents of these counties brace for the impact of Hurricane Milton, they are reminded of the devastating effects of Hurricanes Helene and Katrina. The looming question remains: will Milton surpass its predecessors in terms of destruction and loss? Only time will tell.
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