Hurricane Milton is expected to hit the US state of&nbsp;Florida, bringing strong winds that will likely result in catastrophic damage. The state was hit with another powerful storm Hurricane Helene 12 days ago, which resulted in debris that the residents are still clearing.

According to the National Hurricane Center, "Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.”

<h2>When and where will Milton make landfall?</h2>

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Manatee County and the Sarasota County area in Florida. It will hit the Gulf coasts of the state including the Tampa Bay area, Fort Myers, Orlando, Cape Canaveral and Daytona Beach. Nearby regions also remain on tropical storm alert.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/monstrous-hurricane-milton-could-permanently-alter-floridas-entire-coastline-experts-warn-766022">Monstrous Hurricane Milton could permanently alter Florida's entire coastline, experts warn</a>

As the storm is growing larger, Rick Davis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tampa told USA Today, "We're telling people not to focus on the exact centre because as the system makes landfall, the eye is going to be getting larger, and the wind field is going to be expanding.”

The storm is expected to reach the Florida coasts by Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

The south-west and west-central Florida are already starting to experience the effects of the storm as heavy rains are lashing the area.&nbsp;

As the storm nears, authorities have ordered a mandatory evacuation for millions in the region. The evacuation zone includes Charlotte County, Citrus County, Collier County, Hernando County, Hillsborough County, Lee County, Levy County, Manatee County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Sarasota County, St&nbsp;Johns County, and Volusia County.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/milton-turning-out-to-be-eerily-similar-to-hypothetical-cat-5-hurricane-scenario-765884">Hurricane Milton is eerily similar to a 2020 hypothetical Cat 5 scenario</a>

<h2>What is the intensity of Milton?</h2>

Hurricane Milton is classified as a Category 5 storm, according to meteorologists. This is the maximum category as per the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, which ranges from 1 to 5.

According to the National Weather Server, a Category 5 hurricane is described as a storm with wind speeds 157 mph or higher (252 km/hr or higher). During this storm, “catastrophic damage will occur: a high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.”

Late Tuesday (Oct 8) the storm sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/hr). The forecasters have warned of a storm surge of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 metres) in Tampa Bay, much worse than Helene’s which was 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.5 metres).

(With inputs from agencies)

Hurricane Milton is expected to hit the US state of Florida, bringing strong winds that will likely result in catastrophic damage. The state was hit with another powerful storm Hurricane Helene 12 days ago, which resulted in debris that the residents are still clearing.

Hurricane Milton is expected to hit the US state of Florida, bringing strong winds that will likely result in catastrophic damage. The state was hit with another powerful storm Hurricane Helene 12 days ago, which resulted in debris that the residents are still clearing. According to the National Hurricane Center, "Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.” When and where will Milton make landfall? Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Manatee County and the Sarasota County area in Florida. It will hit the Gulf coasts of the state including the Tampa Bay area, Fort Myers, Orlando, Cape Canaveral and Daytona Beach. Nearby regions also remain on tropical storm alert. Also read | Monstrous Hurricane Milton could permanently alter Florida's entire coastline, experts warn As the storm is growing larger, Rick Davis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tampa told USA Today, "We're telling people not to focus on the exact centre because as the system makes landfall, the eye is going to be getting larger, and the wind field is going to be expanding.” The storm is expected to reach the Florida coasts by Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. The south-west and west-central Florida are already starting to experience the effects of the storm as heavy rains are lashing the area. As the storm nears, authorities have ordered a mandatory evacuation for millions in the region. The evacuation zone includes Charlotte County, Citrus County, Collier County, Hernando County, Hillsborough County, Lee County, Levy County, Manatee County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Sarasota County, St Johns County, and Volusia County. Also Read | Hurricane Milton is eerily similar to a 2020 hypothetical Cat 5 scenario What is the intensity of Milton? Hurricane Milton is classified as a Category 5 storm, according to meteorologists. This is the maximum category as per the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale, which ranges from 1 to 5. According to the National Weather Server, a Category 5 hurricane is described as a storm with wind speeds 157 mph or higher (252 km/hr or higher). During this storm, “catastrophic damage will occur: a high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.” Late Tuesday (Oct 8) the storm sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/hr). The forecasters have warned of a storm surge of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 metres) in Tampa Bay, much worse than Helene’s which was 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.5 metres). (With inputs from agencies)

Hurricane Milton to hit Florida: Timing, areas at risk, wind speeds, and what to expect

According to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group, climate change made Hurricane Helene's devastating rains and winds 10 per cent more intense.&nbsp;

Hurricane Helene dumped torrential rains in the Appachelon region of the southeastern US in the past week, killing more than 200 people and turning into the second deadliest storm after Katrina. As suspected by scientists over the years, the storms are becoming deadlier each year because of the climate crisis.

The hurricane had formed above the Gulf of Mexico when sea surface temperatures&nbsp;were at record hot levels, noted the WWA in a report on its website.&nbsp;

Before Helene hit the US coast, there were a bunch of slow-moving storms that collected moisture, causing heavy rainfall in the southern US states. It is this rain that caused flooding that led to 227 deaths, making it the deadliest hurricane since Katrina in 2005, according to the research group.

Watch: Florida Evacuates As Category 5 Storm Milton Intensifies Rapidly | WION Originals

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The monitoring group attributed changes in rainfall patterns to climate change. Such rains are now more frequent, happening every seven years in coastal areas.

According to the climate models run by the WWA group, climate change was seen as the cause of 10 per cent heavier rainfall. The group noted that if global temperatures rise by two degrees Celcius, such rainfall will be between 15 and 25 per cent more intense.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fake-ai-generated-deepfakes-of-hurricane-helene-victims-go-viral-764918">Also read: Heartbreaking images or something else? AI-generated deepfakes of Hurricane Helene victims go viral</a> 
 
"Rainfall events as severe as those brought by hurricane Helene now occur about once every 7 (3 – 25) years in the coastal region, and about once every 70 (20 – 3000) years in the inland region," it said.

The IRIS climate model that WAA ran indicated the frequency and intensity of storms rising by 150 per cent. The maximum wind speeds have increased by around 11 per cent.&nbsp;

And it attributed the weather changes to human-caused climate change. "Using the Ocean Climate Shift Index, we find that the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) over the track of the storm have been made about 200-500 times more likely due to the burning of fossil fuels.&nbsp;

"Together, these findings show that climate change is enhancing conditions conducive to the most powerful hurricanes like Helene, with more intense rainfall totals and wind speeds. This is in line with other scientific findings that Atlantic tropical cyclones are becoming wetter under climate change and undergoing more rapid intensification," it said in the report.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-transport-secretary-pete-buttigieg-talks-to-elon-musk-clarifies-faa-stance-in-hurricane-helene-aftermath-765124">Also read: US transport secretary Pete Buttigieg talks to Elon Musk, clarifies FAA stance in Hurricane Helene aftermath</a>

"If the world continues to burn fossil fuels, causing global warming to reach 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, devastating rainfall events in both regions will become another 15-25 % more likely," WWA said.

Although a 10 per cent increase in rainfall might seem relatively small&nbsp;that small change in the hazard really leads to big change in impacts and damage, news agency AFP quoted climate scientist Friederike Otto, who heads WWA group, as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)

According to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group, climate change made Hurricane Helene's devastating rains and winds 10 per cent more intense. Hurricane Helene dumped torrential rains in the Appachelon region of the southeastern US in the past week, killing more than 200 people and turning into the second deadliest storm after Katrina.

According to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group, climate change made Hurricane Helene's devastating rains and winds 10 per cent more intense. Hurricane Helene dumped torrential rains in the Appachelon region of the southeastern US in the past week, killing more than 200 people and turning into the second deadliest storm after Katrina. As suspected by scientists over the years, the storms are becoming deadlier each year because of the climate crisis. The hurricane had formed above the Gulf of Mexico when sea surface temperatures were at record hot levels, noted the WWA in a report on its website. Before Helene hit the US coast, there were a bunch of slow-moving storms that collected moisture, causing heavy rainfall in the southern US states. It is this rain that caused flooding that led to 227 deaths, making it the deadliest hurricane since Katrina in 2005, according to the research group. Watch: Florida Evacuates As Category 5 Storm Milton Intensifies Rapidly | WION Originals × The monitoring group attributed changes in rainfall patterns to climate change. Such rains are now more frequent, happening every seven years in coastal areas. According to the climate models run by the WWA group, climate change was seen as the cause of 10 per cent heavier rainfall. The group noted that if global temperatures rise by two degrees Celcius, such rainfall will be between 15 and 25 per cent more intense. Also read: Heartbreaking images or something else? AI-generated deepfakes of Hurricane Helene victims go viral "Rainfall events as severe as those brought by hurricane Helene now occur about once every 7 (3 – 25) years in the coastal region, and about once every 70 (20 – 3000) years in the inland region," it said. The IRIS climate model that WAA ran indicated the frequency and intensity of storms rising by 150 per cent. The maximum wind speeds have increased by around 11 per cent. And it attributed the weather changes to human-caused climate change. "Using the Ocean Climate Shift Index, we find that the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) over the track of the storm have been made about 200-500 times more likely due to the burning of fossil fuels. "Together, these findings show that climate change is enhancing conditions conducive to the most powerful hurricanes like Helene, with more intense rainfall totals and wind speeds. This is in line with other scientific findings that Atlantic tropical cyclones are becoming wetter under climate change and undergoing more rapid intensification," it said in the report. Also read: US transport secretary Pete Buttigieg talks to Elon Musk, clarifies FAA stance in Hurricane Helene aftermath "If the world continues to burn fossil fuels, causing global warming to reach 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, devastating rainfall events in both regions will become another 15-25 % more likely," WWA said. Although a 10 per cent increase in rainfall might seem relatively small that small change in the hazard really leads to big change in impacts and damage, news agency AFP quoted climate scientist Friederike Otto, who heads WWA group, as saying. (With inputs from agencies)

Hurricane Helene was deadliest since Katrina. Climate change is to blame, say researchers

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Hurricane Milton to hit Florida: Timing, areas at risk, wind speeds, and what to expect

Hurricane Helene was deadliest since Katrina. Climate change is to blame, say researchers