Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc across Florida this morning as it made landfall. The Category Three storm, nicknamed the ‘storm of the century’ has prompted thousands of evacuations from the Tampa Bay area.
Milton struck near Siesta Key, Florida at approximately 8.30pm local time. The US National Hurricane Centre has reported that it brought maximum sustained winds of 120mph, while experts have warned of a deadly storm surge and ‘extreme flooding’ potential.
Over two million residents in the path of Milton have been placed under the highest level of flood warning by the US National Weather Service, according to the Liverpool Echo. The impact of the storm has also disrupted travel plans for UK tourists, leading to numerous flight cancellations.
Airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, and TUI have cancelled flights from the UK to Florida, while several Florida airports, including Orlando International, Melbourne Orlando International, and Tampa International, have ceased commercial services.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised tourists in the area to stay updated on the storm’s progress via the US National Hurricane Centre website and to heed local authority advice, including evacuation orders. A spokesperson added: “We are closely monitoring the development of Hurricane Milton towards the United States. We urge all British nationals in Florida or travelling to the region to follow travel advice and guidance from local authorities.”
While the Met Office has indicated that remnants of Hurricane Milton could affect UK weather next week if they reach the Atlantic, it is reportedly ‘highly unlikely to reach the UK’. Forecasters have described Milton as a ‘dangerous and destructive hurricane as it makes landfall’, with coastal areas experiencing sustained powerful sustained winds and a significant storm surge.
Milton is set to lose strength and become a tropical storm as it moves over the open Atlantic, eventually transitioning into an extratropical storm after passing south of Bermuda. According to the Met Office, Milton’s remnants will likely ‘either be absorbed into a frontal zone or dissipate in situ in the subtropical Atlantic’.