Hurricane Milton gained strength on Sunday, reaching hurricane status as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico, threatening areas of Florida still reeling from Hurricane Helene's recent devastation. With sustained winds of 80 mph, radio is again prepared to deliver up-to-the-minute emergency information as Milton is projected to intensify, potentially reaching Category 4 strength before approaching the Florida coast by Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is expected to bring significant rainfall, with predictions of 5 to 10 inches and localized areas potentially seeing up to 15 inches across the Florida Peninsula and the Keys through Wednesday night. This heavy rainfall raises concerns of widespread minor to moderate river flooding, as noted by NHC specialist Eric Blake.
Updated forecasts on Sunday evening showed Hurricane Milton intensifying, with projected maximum sustained winds reaching 145 mph, classifying it as a Category 4 storm upon landfall. The NHC noted, “The forecast could still be too low,” as the storm's intensity has continually escalated. Additionally, Milton, initially predicted to be compact, has expanded, increasing the potential impact zone.
“We expect Milton to be a large hurricane at landfall, with very dangerous impacts spread across a wide area,” reads the latest NHC forecast. In preparation, Storm Surge and Hurricane Watches are expected for parts of Florida later on Sunday or early Monday.
As Hurricane Milton bears down, residents in its path are urged to finalize their preparations. With wind speeds extending up to 80 miles from the center, the storm poses a broad-reaching threat to life and property.
Radio stations will be keeping residents informed on the storm less than two weeks after doing the same as Hurricane Helene passed through the state on its way to dump torrential rains and do billions in damage in North and South Carolina. Almost two dozen radio stations in those states were knocked off the air due to the storm.
But ground zero for Milton is Florida, where iHeartMedia North Florida Area President Paul Rogers told Inside Radio in advance of Helene, “I’m blessed to have a very experienced local team that’s done this a time or two, including leading us through Hurricane Michael six years ago. My Chief Engineer Charlie Wooten was awarded the SBE Engineer of the Year award for his work before, during, and after that storm.”
Hozzászólások