"Life-threatening"

Florida prepares for extreme hurricane “Milton”

(Bild: NOAA)

Tropical storm "Milton" has gained strength off the west coast of Florida, is now a category 5 hurricane (the highest) and is life-threatening according to US authorities. In several parts of Florida, people have already been asked to take shelter.

With sustained wind speeds of up to around 285 kilometers per hour, the hurricane poses an "extremely serious threat to Florida", according to the authorities. A major storm surge was already predicted for the west coast of the US state on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning, with the water in the city of Tampa potentially rising up to 3.6 meters.

"I can say this without any dramatization: if you choose to stay in one of the evacuation areas, you will die," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told CNN.

If you choose to stay in one of the evacuation areas, you will die.

Jane Castor, Bürgermeisterin von Tampa

Warnings are becoming increasingly dramatic
Meteorologists expect the storm to hit Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane with wind speeds of up to 209 kilometers per hour. "Milton" has the potential to become one of the most destructive hurricanes ever recorded in this region, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Even with decreasing strength, "Milton" remains dangerous as it is expected to increase in size, affecting an extensive area. Storm surges with water levels of up to five meters and destructive winds are to be expected. The cities of Naples, Fort Meyers and Tampa are particularly at risk.

(Bild: NOAA)

Some airports suspend air traffic
Various airports in Florida have announced that they are suspending air traffic. The White House announced support for Florida. US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for the state. This will release federal funds to support the affected regions.

Return of Crew-8 postponed
"Milton" forces the US space agency NASA and SpaceX to postpone the return of the "Crew-8" astronauts to Earth. They were originally due to splash down with the Crew Dragon capsule off the coast of Florida on Monday morning. The return is now scheduled for Sunday morning (October 13) at the earliest.

Tropical cyclones form over very warm ocean waters. According to experts, increasing global warming increases the likelihood of strong storms. The hurricane season begins in the Atlantic on June 1 and lasts until November 30. The storms are named in alphabetical order.