New space photographs show Hurricane Milton, which has prompted the evacuation of millions in Florida, passing over Mexico.
NASA released images of the hurricane traversing the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
At the time the photographs were taken, the hurricane was classified as a Category 5 storm.
Hurricane #Milton is pictured as a Category 5 storm in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Yucatan Peninsula from the space station on Oct. 8, 2024. pic.twitter.com/S7Hpe5GFMp
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) October 9, 2024
In Mexico, authorities in Yucatan state reported minor damage from Milton.
The governor of Yucatan stated that power lines, street lights and trees fell near the coast, whilst some small structures with thatched roofs were destroyed.
No deaths or injuries were reported.
Hurricane Milton, a potentially catastrophic storm, is approaching Florida’s Gulf Coast today, leaving residents with only hours to evacuate or seek shelter before it brings a life-threatening storm surge, accompanied by fierce winds and heavy rainfall, to an area recently struck by Hurricane Helene two weeks ago.
Millions of people along more than 300 miles of coastline have been ordered to evacuate, with authorities issuing increasingly urgent warnings this morning as extreme weather conditions draw near.
Hurricane Milton is expected to bring a destructive storm surge to Florida's west coast. @StephanieAbrams uses our FloodFX simulation technology to show you what that could look like ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rg996zNHy2
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) October 8, 2024
Michael Tilenda, visiting his son in Tampa, said he would heed officials’ instructions to leave.
“If you know anything about Florida, when you don’t evacuate if they tell you to, you could die,” Tilenda said. “The house can be replaced. Things can be replaced. It’s better to get out of town.”
Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Sandra Tapfumanegi told CNN that people living on barrier islands in her county, just south of Tampa, are unlikely to survive the flooding, with water levels expected to reach between 3 and nearly 5 metres.
The hurricane is on a collision course with the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, home to more than 3 million people, although meteorologists say the storm’s path could shift before its expected arrival late tonight.
As of 2 p.m. GMT, the storm’s eye was 252 miles southwest of Tampa. The storm has weakened slightly to a Category 4 hurricane, but remains “an extremely dangerous hurricane” with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Milton is expected to maintain its strength as it crosses the Florida peninsula, threatening catastrophic flooding along the Atlantic coast.
Officials including U.S. President Joe Biden and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor have warned citizens in evacuation zones to leave or risk death.
Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reiterated today that “this hurricane has significant impact and will cause a lot of damage.”
FEMA has moved millions of litres of water, millions of meals and other supplies and personnel to the area.
“I want citizens to hear it directly from me, FEMA is ready,” said Deanne Criswell, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, adding that she would travel to Florida today.
About 2.8% of U.S. GDP is in Milton’s path, said Ryan Sweet, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics. Airlines and energy companies have already suspended some operations in Florida.
Florida’s major theme parks are halting operations ahead of the storm, with Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld planning to close later today.
Traffic congestion prevailed on roads leading out of Tampa yesterday, while about 17% of Florida’s nearly 8,000 petrol stations ran out of fuel, according to the GasBuddy website.
(information from protothema.gr)
