The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported this Wednesday that hurricane-force winds are striking the Gulf Coast of Florida, with gusts reaching up to 124 km/h (77 mph) at Tampa Bay entrance, and sustained winds of 93 km/h (58 mph).
The NHC reported on the social media platform X that wind gusts of 106 km/h (66 mph) were also recorded at the Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg, indicating that the effects of the cyclone are intensifying in that area.
The monitoring center indicated that heavy rainfall is impacting central Florida and warned that dangerous storm surges, damaging winds, and torrential downpours will continue throughout the night in areas of the central and southwestern parts of the state.
He pointed out that the system is currently moving northeast at 24 km/h (15 mph) and maintains maximum sustained winds of 205 km/h (120 mph), which still poses a significant threat to the coastal communities in the region.
In a previous bulletin, the NHC warned that although Hurricane Milton had weakened to a category 3, with sustained winds of 200 km/h, it would continue to be a powerful and damaging cyclone.
The monitoring center reported on social media platform X that multiple tornado warnings had been issued that could affect the Florida peninsula, highlighting the seriousness of the situation as Hurricane Milton continues to batter the region.
The prominent meteorologist John Morales indicated on the social network X that Milton may be starting to weaken: "Beginning of its terminal weakening phase. Minimum barometric pressure is rising rapidly."
Previously, a drone managed to capture giant waves over eight meters (28.12 feet) high while it was just 60 kilometers from the center of Hurricane Milton, showcasing the devastating force of the cyclone as it approached Florida.
The Tampa police warned on Wednesday that although evacuation is the recommended measure, those who choose not to evacuate should write their name and date of birth on their arm as a precaution.
"To those who do not evacuate voluntarily, I recommend that you take a photo of yourself, that you take a photo of your clothing to be able to identify you after the storm, which will be deadly," said Rose Angelakopoulos, a police officer in Tampa, to the popular communicator Enrique Santos.
... News in progress ...
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