A simulation shows the destructive potential of Hurricane Milton. With wind speeds of up to 290 km/h, a catastrophe threatens.
Washington, DC – The US state of Florida is preparing for one of the most dangerous hurricanes in its history. Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida on the night of Thursday, October 10, 2024. A current flood simulation reveals the extreme destructive potential of Hurricane Milton, which is heading towards the US Gulf Coast as a maximum Category 5 storm.
With record wind speeds and meter-high storm surges, the storm threatens to cause historic damage. Meteorologists warn of unprecedented destruction and a threat to human life.
Hurricane Milton on its way to Florida: Simulation shows devastating potential
Hurricane Milton has grown from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in just a few days – one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico. With wind speeds of almost 290 km/h, the hurricane has reached incredible strength and is becoming loud The Independentwill go down in history as one of the “fastest intensifying storms.” A simulation of the Weather Channel shows that the storm could devastate everything in its path: buildings, infrastructure and entire communities.
The predicted storm surges are particularly dangerous. The flood simulation shows that water could rise up to 15 meters in some parts of the coast – enough to flood two-story buildings. Low-lying areas and coastal cities would be particularly at risk. Entire communities could be destroyed by the massive amounts of water.
Weather experts and politicians warn: Hurricane Milton “unsurvivable”
John Feerick, senior AccuWeather meteorologistdescribes the potential damage as almost unimaginable. “Most buildings are literally ripped off their foundations,” Feerick explains. “It’s like an EF-4 tornado that not only hits a small area, but hits a much larger region with wind speeds of over 150 mph.” These wind speeds are so strong that debris is thrown through the air like projectiles become. “Anything caught in the winds could kill instantly,” Feerick said.
In Florida, evacuation measures are already in full swing and the scale is unprecedented in Florida’s history. Tens of thousands of residents are being asked to leave their homes and seek safety. US President Joe Biden called on the population in an urgent speech to evacuate immediately. “It’s a matter of life and death,” the president warned urgently on Tuesday. Many highways are already congested as people rush to safety. The mayor of Tampa, on Florida’s west coast, Jane Castor, also recently said: “I can tell you without any dramatization: If you choose to stay in an evacuation zone, you will die.”
But this is currently easier said than done. According to reports, about a fifth of the state’s gas stations are already empty as people stock up on gas and clog the roads. Emergency services are preparing for a wave of people in need who may need to be placed in shelters if their homes are destroyed.
Hurricane Milton hits Florida’s west coast on Thursday: evacuation is in full swing
Memories of previous hurricanes such as Katrina and Irma are brought back, which caused similar storm surges and left a trail of devastation. The simulation shows that the chances of survival for residents in low-lying coastal regions are slim if they are not evacuated in time.
Tom Krall, who experienced Hurricane Irma in the US Virgin Islands in 2017, describes the feeling of being during a Category 5 hurricane The Independent as “indescribable”. “It’s like sticking your head out the car window at full speed. The pressure on the body is unbearable and the noise is deafening,” recalls Krall. Hurricane Irma caused massive damage and the islands’ residents had to wait a long time for help because the infrastructure had completely collapsed.
Hurricane season 2024 in full swing: climate change as a driver
Scientists see climate change as one of the main causes of the increasing intensity of hurricanes like Milton. The unusually high water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, which reached record levels this year, quickly strengthened the hurricane. These high temperatures provide hurricanes with the “fuel” that makes them so dangerous.
Brian McNoldy, a climate scientist at the University of Miami, explains Firstpostthat climate change is contributing to such storms becoming faster and more severe. “The high temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico caused Milton to intensify to Category 5 in a very short time,” says McNoldy. In just 24 hours, Milton grew from a tropical storm to one of the strongest hurricanes in recent years – an intensification that is rarely so rapid, according to the US Weather Agency. (ls)
#Simulation #shows #devastating #potential #Hurricane #Milton