As Hurricane Milton approached Florida, millions of residents facing mandatory evacuation orders tried to escape, leading to chaotic travel and traffic jams on the highways. With the latest details in hand, Tampa International Airport became too hazardous for flights, closing indefinitely at 9 AM on October 8, 2024.
Meanwhile, a simulation by the Weather Channel has illustrated the potential water levels from Hurricane Milton. During the report, the host stood on a CGI-rendered street, demonstrating how Tampa might appear if hit by the anticipated 15-foot storm surge.
He began by depicting what three feet of water would look like, cautioning viewers that anyone staying home when the water reached this level would have waited too long to evacuate. This simulation has attracted a lot of reactions from social media users. One person wrote:
“goddamn so florida literally boutta become atlantis?”
Netizens pointed out the seriousness of the situation, saying that it was almost like a minor Tsunami.
“This is not a hurricane anymore that's a mini tsunami and people still haven't gotten away from there,” an X user commented.
“the people in florida are screwed,” a person reacted.
“I'd be terrified of the sharks and crocs flooding the mainland,” a netizen wrote.
As X users prayed for America, other social media users pointed out the global warming issue.
“god protect America not looking good from this point,” another X user commented.
“global warming is bad kids,” a netizen pointed out.
“idk how to explain it but this goes hard,” a person wrote.
The simulated water level increased to six feet and then past nine feet, after which the water reached above the host’s head. Current forecasts indicate that Hurricane Milton could generate storm surges of up to 15 feet, significantly higher than the alarming nine feet depicted in the Weather Channel's simulation.
Meteorologists said Hurricane Milton might weaken to a Category 3 storm
Meteorologists predicted that Hurricane Milton could downgrade to a Category 3 storm as it approaches landfall near Tampa. Currently classified as a Category 5 storm, Milton is expected to be one of the most severe storms to impact the region in nearly a century, potentially bringing a storm surge of 10 to 15 feet and localized rainfall of up to 1.5 feet.
John Morales, a meteorologist from Florida, emphasized the storm's extreme intensity, indicating that even if it weakens, it could still arrive as a Category 4 or Category 3 hurricane. It is approaching Florida's west coast at a relatively perpendicular angle, which differs from the usual trajectory of hurricanes that typically come from the western Caribbean at an oblique angle.
This direct approach could result in a higher storm surge and deeper flooding in affected areas.
According to meteorologists, Hurricane Milton could generate multiple tornadoes. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this Category 5 storm is expected to create scattered thunderstorms throughout the central and southern regions of the Florida Peninsula.
The NOAA has indicated that current forecasts predicted conditions conducive to supercell formation, which may lead to tornado activity. As Hurricane Milton moves across the Florida Peninsula, several tornadoes are anticipated in parts of central and southern Florida, extending into the Florida Keys.
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Meanwhile, Florida's Department of Health has reportedly issued a warning that floodwaters from Hurricane Milton could pose a risk of life-threatening infections. They stated that the levels of Vibrio bacteria, typically found in warm coastal waters, may increase following heavy rainfall and flooding.
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