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Milton Supercharged To Mega Cat. 5 Storm, Potentially Rivaling Pre-Civil War Hurricane

Tyler Durden's Photo
by Tyler Durden
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Update (1531ET):

Florida residents be like ... GTFO. 

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Update (1220ET):

Hurricane Milton is now a Category 5 storm, with maximum sustained winds in excess of 160 mph, according to the latest data from the National Hurricane Center. 

"It's the 12th Category 5 hurricane on record in the Gulf of Mexico and strongest so late in the year," Fox Weather wrote on X. 

Meteorologist Mike Masco noted, "There is the potential for some additional increase in intensity through the day. Latest short-range high resolution forecast models show a landfall in the #Tampa #StPete area by Wednesday night. This type of "direct hit" as well as intensity based on the going forecast has not been seen since the 1848, that hurricane was believe to be a category 4>." 

The potential landfall impact area is around Tampa.  

Potentially devastating. 

"If the storm stays on the current track, it will be the worst storm to impact the Tampa area in over 100 years," NWS Tampa Bay wrote on X.

Whoa. 

Nothing to see here. 

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Update (1017ET):

The latest advisory note from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) shows Hurricane Milton has "rapidly intensified" into a Category 4 storm, with maximum sustained winds in excess of 150 mph. 

"Data from both Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate maximum winds are estimated to be 150 mph with a pressure fallen to 940 mb. Changes will be reflected in the normal 10 AM CDT advisory products," NHC wrote on X. 

The latest computer models have a consensus of landfall impacts across Florida's Gulf Coast. 

"Over 6 million people are under a Hurricane Watch in west-central Florida, including the entire Tampa area, ahead of Hurricane Milton, which intensified to a Category 4 storm on Monday morning," Accuweather wrote on X. 

On Sunday, Director Kevin Guthrie of the Florida Division of Emergency Management told reporters that evacuations underway are the largest since 2017.

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Hurricane Milton has explosively intensified into a Category 3 storm and continues churning in the western Gulf of Mexico on Monday morning with crosshairs on Florida's Gulf Coast. On Sunday, the Florida Division of Emergency Management announced the largest evacuation since 2017. This new tropical threat comes eleven days after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region. Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris administration's FEMA has faced mounting criticism for mishandling the initial relief response in North Carolina. 

The latest advisory note from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) shows Milton has maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, or Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This means the hurricane is now a 'major' storm. 

"There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning Tuesday night or early Wednesday," the NHC said.

Milton is expected to cause a storm surge in the Tampa Bay area, with forecasts ranging between 8 and 12 feet. This is much higher than Hurricane Helene when the area recorded 7-8 feet of storm surge. 

During a news conference on Sunday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency for 51 of the state's 67 counties, up from 35 on Saturday. 

DeSantis said, "This allows state officials to operate without the limitations of bureaucracy, making critical resources available to communities ahead of any potential storm impacts."

Director Kevin Guthrie of the Florida Division of Emergency Management also told reporters that evacuations underway are the largest since 2017. 

"I urge Floridians to finalize your storm preparations now, enact your plan. I highly encourage you to evacuate," Guthrie said.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told CNN that residents should "Just go now" to "Beat the traffic and go now, and just go to higher ground."

DeSantis noted, "The Florida National Guard, the Florida State Guard additional FDOT personnel and the Florida Highway Patrol have been activated and deployed to aid in debris removal and provide logistical support to local entities." 

The second tropical threat to hit the US Southeast in under two weeks is alarming since the Biden-Harris administration botched the first response efforts for North Carolina. Hundreds are dead across six states.

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters last week that FEMA "does not have the funds" to see Americans through the rest of this Atlantic hurricane season. While the Biden-Harris administration claims no funds were diverted, the agency spent roughly $640 million on migrant-related expenses this year.

Mayorkas was shopping for luxury clothing in the fancy Georgetown area this weekend. 

"Joe Biden was at the beach when the hurricane came ashore. VP Harris was raising money w/ celebrities before staging a plane photo op. I promise you if a Republican were in the WH there would be no political restraint, just as there was none after Katrina," CNN pundit Scott Jennings wrote on X. 

Those in need in storm-ravaged areas might want to consider identifying as "Ukraine," "Lebanon," or non-US citizens to receive federal aid more quickly. 

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