SUMMARY: Hurricane Milton is heading towards Florida’s West Coast, potentially impacting the Tampa area, which is still recovering from Hurricane Helen just 12 days prior. A significant evacuation is underway, with many residents taking the storm seriously due to the recent storm surge devastation. Traffic on major highways is congested as people flee. The hurricane poses threats further inland than Helen, with expectations of increased rain and flooding. Gas shortages have been reported, though authorities assure residents that supplies will improve. Mandatory evacuation areas face risks, and many residents remain anxious as the storm approaches.

Hurricane Miltion continues to churn in the Gulf of Mexico. The Tampa Bay area is expected to take a hit but the exact path is still unclear.

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SUMMARY: Preparations are ongoing for the impending storm Milton, which has been classified as a strong category 5 hurricane with maximum winds of 165 mph. Residents are advised to secure outdoor decorations and furniture due to anticipated winds of 40-45 mph and potential gusts up to 50 mph. Tropical storm warnings are in effect, with a focus on the risk of strong storms and local damage from wind gusts. The storm’s trajectory has shifted southward, now placing Fort Myers in the path. Conditions are expected to improve by Friday after the storm passes, with ongoing monitoring of potential tornado risks.

CBS News Miami’s chief meteorologist Ivan Cabrera is tracking Hurricane Milton, Tuesday 10/8/24 at 5 p.m.

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SUMMARY: South Florida is facing relentless rain as residents prepare for Hurricane Milton, now classified as a dangerous Category 4 storm with winds peaking at 155 mph. Millions along Florida’s west coast are bracing for potential catastrophic damage, particularly in Tampa and surrounding areas. Governor Ron DeSantis urges residents to finalize their emergency plans. While Milton is expected to weaken, the aftermath of Hurricane Helen still lingers with debris and flooding concerns complicating recovery efforts. The entire state is under some form of tropical storm watch. Local schools have closed, and residents are scrambling for sandbags to protect their homes.

In today‘s Quickcast:

Hurricane Milton barreled across the Gulf of Mexico’s warm waters Tuesday on a path for the west coast of Florida, where mass evacuations clogged highways as people prepared for a potentially historic storm to make landfall as early as Wednesday night. Some communities, like those in and around the Tampa Bay area, were still reeling from the impacts of Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago.

“While fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida,” the National Hurricane Center said. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay described Milton as “a historic storm for the west coast of Florida” that could prove to be the worst storm to impact Tampa Bay in more than 100 years.

Floridians in the potential path of the hurricane lined properties with sandbags, boarded up doors and windows, and moved their boats ahead of the storm’s arrival. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued emergency orders over the weekend that now include 51 counties, whose residents, he said, should prepare for power outages, stock up on enough food and water to last a week and be ready to leave their homes if necessary.

Catch the Quickcast with Najahe Sherman weekdays at 4PM ET streaming on the CBS Miami app and CBSMiami.com
#florida #miami #miamidade #localnews #local #community #politicalnews

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