Florida is preparing for the largest evacuations since Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Tropical Storm Milton has strengthened into a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to approach the state of Florida in the United States.
Milton is expected to make landfall on Florida’s west coast Wednesday morning local time. The storm is expected to affect the Tampa Bay area the most, according to the US National Hurricane Center NHC in Miami.
According to forecasts, the storm would continue as a hurricane through the central parts of Florida towards the Atlantic Ocean.
Milton may also impact areas of the southeastern United States that are still recovering from Hurricane Helene.
Director of the Florida State Office of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie urged people to prepare for the largest evacuations since Hurricane Irma in 2017.
– I strongly encourage you to evacuate, Guthrie told Floridians at a press conference on Sunday.
Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 35 counties yesterday due to earlier forecasts. DeSantis warns that Milton will cause higher storm surges and more widespread power outages than Helene.
He also warns that further destruction caused by Milton may make Helene’s destruction even worse.
As of Sunday afternoon local time, Milton was located about 1,300 kilometers southwest of the Tampa area, the NHC said.
Sources: Reuters, AP