Hurricane Milton | Canadians in Florida are urged to exercise caution

by time news

2024-10-10 23:18:00

While deaths have been reported following the hurricane Milton and millions of people in Florida remained without power, a Canadian meteorologist posted to the region said extreme weather was possible following the devastation and that Canadians in the state should heed warnings about severe storms.

Posted at 7.18pm

Mark Robinson, a meteorologist for The Weather Network (MétéoMédia) based in Oakville, Ontario, traveled to Florida on Tuesday to follow the evolution of the Milton along the west coast. After waiting for the hurricane to pass from the shelter of a garage, Robinson said Canadians need to take severe weather into consideration when traveling to the state.

“Canadians … may not be prepared for hurricanes, may not be prepared for what these storms can do,” he said in a telephone interview Thursday. “Take these storms seriously, they are not insurmountable. »

Mr Robinson said he took shelter in a car park in Sarasota, Florida, where the eye of the hurricane made landfall as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday evening, bringing a deluge of rain and powerful winds.

“It was hot and humid, and then we just had a gust of air… that little gust became a strong breeze, then stronger and stronger, until it became a real roar of wind,” he reported from Tampa, Florida , where he visited Thursday. “We had to go back to our parking lot when the strongest eyewall came ashore and really destroyed Sarasota. »

The meteorologist detailed the damage he saw, saying there was debris flying into the streets, cars stuck on the roads and damage to trees and building roofs. Some areas of the state experienced flooding after the storm, he added.

He also said he spoke with several Florida residents who were preparing for the storm at local hotels after evacuating their homes, many of whom had already faced the same task just two weeks ago during the hurricane. Elena. “A lot of the feeling was tiredness,” he reported. I think a lot of people have just resigned themselves to the fact that they might lose their homes. And it’s demoralizing. »

Mr. Robinson explained the rapid development of the hurricane Milton had made it difficult to predict the exact location and time of landfall, meaning the state’s residents had little time to prepare. “It was a little unusual in that it exploded right over the Gulf of Mexico and then immediately started heading east,” he commented.

Millions of people were ordered to evacuate in 11 Florida counties in anticipation of the storm. It also spawned several tornadoes, some of which killed at least four people in St. Lucie County on Florida’s east coast, according to local officials.

Florida officials are still assessing damage across the state Miltonand Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that the state is also evaluating the need for distribution points for water, food and other supplies.

Growing risks for Canadians to consider

Many Canadians live in Florida seasonally, and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly urged them to leave Florida on Wednesday. The state is also a popular tourist destination for Canadians and some said they had to take safety precautions during the storm.

Rob Westgate, a Canadian Press reporter who was vacationing in Orlando, Florida, during the hurricane, said he and other Disney World tourists were told to shelter in their hotel rooms as the park closed. closing and the eye passed just south of the city. “It’s very windy if you’re facing into the wind,” he said. Everyone here was amazing. Many hurricane veterans. »

Mark Robinson, the meteorologist, said early computer models show weather conditions are still developing and could produce tropical cyclones, which could bring more hurricanes to the United States and far eastern Canada. While there is ongoing research into the effects of climate change on these types of severe weather events, Robinson said there is evidence that it increases the risk of hurricanes.

That’s one reason he urged Canadians traveling to Florida to consider the impact of extreme weather on their stay in the state.

Canadians, in particular snow birds Those who live in the state part-time should also think about how storms could affect their properties and insurance coverage, he said, adding that residents should always follow the advice of local authorities.

“A good way to look at it is to be informed, to realize that these storms hit Florida regularly,” he insisted. If you pay attention to what the authorities tell you, they will guide you correctly. »

With archives from the Associated Press.

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