Hurricane Milton made landfall on the Florida coast this morning, forcing thousands of residents to flee vulnerable coastal areas. The hurricane, which weakened slightly before making landfall, remains a Category 5 hurricane, the highest level for a tropical storm in the United States.
Experts at the U.S. Storm Prediction Center warned that the hurricane could spawn several powerful tornadoes along the coast. These tornadoes can cause serious damage to buildings and vehicles. They also warn that entire coastal areas could be cut off from main roads.
At least 30,000 people have already evacuated their homes in the Tampa area. Tampa’s largest medical center, Tampa General Hospital, installed flood barriers to ensure operations during the storm.
All educational institutions in West Florida are closed and will reopen on Friday or Saturday. The hurricane is expected to hit Tampa with winds reaching 100 mph and bringing heavy rain.
At least five cities in the state imposed curfews during the hurricane, especially in coastal communities that risk being cut off from the mainland.
Meanwhile, the death toll from Hurricane Helen, which hit North Carolina last week, rose to 236. This hurricane caused widespread destruction and left rural areas without supplies.
Cursor previously wrote that Israeli scientists made an important discovery about global wind systems.
