The hurricane Milton has decreased in intensity this Wednesday, dropping to category 2 with maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour (105 miles), after making landfall in Siesta Keyon the west coast of Florida.
Despite this decrease, it remains a significant threat due to wind gusts. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Milton is also causing flash flooding in the Tampa Bay area as it moves toward eastern Florida.
Milton made its landfall this Wednesday night in Siesta Key, near Sarasota, around 8:30 p.m. as a Category 3 hurricane. Although it has lost strength, the NHC reports gusts of up to 164 kilometers per hour (101 miles). .
“Milton brings devastating rain and damaging winds to parts of inland and central Florida,” the NHC warned in its latest update.
The Tampa metropolitan area had received up to about 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain per hour after the cyclone made landfall, he said. Jamie Rhomesubdirector del NHC, a CBS News, which represents up to three times the speed and rate of normal rain that falls in a day.
“When the rain comes down that fast, that hard in an urban area, you almost get a flash flood, you have nowhere to go, you just get an instant flash flood, and we’re seeing it develop throughout the Bay Area.” Tampa,” Rhome explained to the television station.
Flash flood watches are still in effect for the Tampa area.
The counties of Hillsborough, Manatee y Pinellas are under flash flood warnings until early morning.
According to the National Weather Service, between 10 and 14 inches of rain has fallen in the region and flash flooding is already occurring.
Blackouts affect millions of customers
The outlook worsens because more than 1.5 million customers They were left without electricity in Florida after Hurricane Milton made landfall, according to the accounting of the specialized website PowerOutage.
Before the arrival of Miltona tornado caused the first fatalities.
Authorities in St. Lucie County, on Florida’s east coast, confirmed tonight that “multiple deaths” occurred in a housing community hit by a tornado associated with the system.
At least 19 tornadoes were recorded in central and southern Florida this Wednesday, hours before Hurricane Milton made landfall in Siesta Key.
Although it is a Category 2, the hurricane is heading towards the Atlantic and could cause more damage to communities already affected by the tornadoes.
Milton is the second hurricane to hit Florida in almost two weeks, after receiving the last one September 26 the impact of the powerful Hurricane Helene, which entered the northwest of this state with category 4 and left a trail of devastation across six states in the southeastern United States.
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