Tornadoes, widespread power outages, and fatalities: essential information regarding the effects of Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton has resulted in at least nine fatalities and caused significant property damage throughout Florida, impacting areas previously affected by Hurricane Helene last month. Here are the main points regarding its effects and expert assessments of this storm, which raised concerns about potentially being one of the worst in Florida's history.

1. Impact of Hurricane Milton:
   Meteorologists were taken aback by Milton's rapid intensification into a category 5 hurricane as it traversed the Gulf of Mexico, heightening fears of disaster as it approached the densely populated Tampa Bay region. Ultimately, the storm made landfall at Siesta Key, just south of Tampa, as a category 3 hurricane on Wednesday night. Although homes were damaged, trees uprooted, and millions experienced power outages, the worst devastation was averted. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis remarked, "The storm was significant, but thankfully this was not the worst-case scenario. The storm weakened before landfall, and the storm surge was not as severe overall as what we observed with Hurricane Helene," which had a death toll of at least 230.
2. Severity of the Storm Surge:
   A critical risk posed by Milton was its ability to push massive amounts of seawater from Tampa Bay into the city. The worst storm surge occurred in Sarasota County, where it reached 8 to 10 feet (2.5 to 3 meters)—less severe than the surge from Helene two weeks prior. However, some areas experienced substantial flooding. Plant City, located just inland from Tampa, received over 13 inches (33 cm) of rain, inundating neighborhoods. City manager Bill McDaniel stated, "We have flooding in places and to levels that I've never seen, and I've lived in this community my entire life."
3. Tornado Impact:
   The shifts in wind patterns associated with landfalling hurricanes can generate tornadoes, and experts noted that Milton produced an unusually high number of them. Over 140 tornado warnings were issued across Florida on Wednesday, with some causing significant damage. In St. Lucie County on Florida's east coast, four fatalities were confirmed from a tornado that struck a retirement home. While Florida typically experiences more tornadoes per square mile than any other state, they are generally weak; the tornadoes spawned by Milton were more comparable to those seen in the Great Plains.
4. Current Threats:
   As Milton has moved across Florida and is now heading into the Atlantic Ocean, north of the Bahamas, it has left 3 million people without power, blocked roads, destroyed bridges, and swollen rivers due to heavy rainfall. Approximately 11 million individuals are at risk of flooding as rainwater drains into already-overflowing rivers, prompting officials to warn that the danger is not yet over. President Joe Biden, who had cautioned that Milton could be the "storm of the century," echoed local authorities in urging residents to remain indoors and avoid roads. He emphasized, "Downed power lines, debris, and road washouts are creating dangerous conditions. Help is on the way, but until it arrives, shelter in place until your local officials say it's safe to go out."
5. Long-term Consequences:
   The U.S. has experienced two major hurricanes—Helene and Milton—in just two weeks, leading to hundreds of deaths and billions in damages across six states. Many regions, including parts of North Carolina, are still without electricity or running water following Helene, while Floridians affected by both storms face a lengthy recovery that could take months or even years. Biden has authorized federal aid to the impacted states, receiving support from Republican governors but criticism from Donald Trump, who has claimed that the response has been sluggish, spreading misinformation that has hindered recovery efforts, according to the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Scientists have concluded that the climate crisis, driven by fossil fuel consumption, has increased the likelihood of hurricanes like Helene by warming the air and water that bolster their intensity. It's also believed that Milton was intensified by record-high temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico this summer.