(Web Desk) Hurricane “Milton” hit the coast of the US state of Florida prematurely, raising hopes of avoiding the worst storm in the state’s history.
The storm made landfall around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) near Sistaki, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Ahead of the storm’s arrival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he hoped Florida’s west coast would be spared the worst of the storm, with waves as high as four meters predicted. Santis had hoped that Tampa Bay could avoid major damage and be allowed to resume shipping immediately after the storm passed.
The Florida governor added that Milton had already spawned at least 19 smaller tornadoes before this major storm hit, causing damage in several counties and destroying about 125 homes.
The National Hurricane Center called it an “extremely dangerous” storm, with the worst storm to hit central Florida, as well as tornadoes and flooding in urban areas, with people being warned to stay indoors. Can be fatal.
The storm was expected to cross the Florida peninsula overnight and emerge into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday. The hurricane will drop below hurricane level, but the state’s Atlantic coast will still have a storm risk.
Strong storm-force winds battered much of the state, and according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the storm generated waves as high as 8.5 meters.
The state of Florida was already dealing with Hurricane Helen two weeks ago, which prompted evacuation orders for nearly two million people and millions more living in the storm’s path.
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