Hurricane Milton live updates: Path tracker, flooding, wind speed, casualties and emergency in Florida

HURRICANE MILTON

How you can help those affected by hurricanes Milton and Helene

Two weeks after Hurricane Helene battered parts of the United States, Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. Dozens have died due to these destructive. weather systems, while thousands of others have lost their homes.

Here’s how you can help those affected by the storms.

Residents are warned of remaining hazards even as Milton weakens

Tropical and storm surge warnings have been discontinued, but danger remains in Hurricane Milton’s aftermath.

Authorities urge residents to be careful of existing hazards such as downed power lines and flooded areas.

WEATHER

Why did Hurricane Milton cause so many tornadoes in the United States?

More than 100 tornado warnings were issued in Florida before Hurricane Milton made landfall. This high tally should come as no surprise, since the U.S. experiences the largest number of tornadoes per year in the world.

Why are there so many tornadoes in the United States?

HURRICANE MILTON

Inside Hurricane Milton: drone records 8.5-meter waves and 122 km/h winds

Inside Hurricane Milton, a NOAA marine drone recorded 8.57-meter waves and wind gusts of up to 122 km/h, 40 nautical miles from the storm’s center.

This research is part of a collaborative effort to better understand the ocean’s role in hurricane behavior.

Florida man Lieutenant Dan safe in shelter

Joseph Malinowski, a Florida man nicknamed ‘Lieutenant Dan’, made headlines in various media outlets after ignoring evacuation orders and refusing to abandon his sailboat in the face of the imminent arrival of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall as a Category 3 cyclone on the night of Wednesday, Oct. 9.

According to videos circulating online, Malinowski refused to abandon his vessel because of his faith, claiming that God had asked him to remain on his boat, which was tied to a local dock. Joseph claims that his belief would keep him safe during the storm.

However, local authorities managed to change Malinowski's mind, so he was able to evacuate in time and is now safe and sound in a shelter after the devastation of Florida.

Florida police rescue dog

It’s very easy to lose pets when disasters like Hurricane Milton take place.

This dog for example, was left tied to a fence during the storm. Though the pup was found standing in flood waters, the animal is now safe and dry after being rescued by Florida police.

Charlotte county commissioner belives residents heeded evacuation orders due to proximity to Helene and PTSD

Sdaly the death toll from Hurricane Milton has risen to ten people and it is expected to rise. However, authorities believe that many heeded the warnings to evacuate which has lowered the expected number of fatalities.

Charlotte county commissioner Bill Truex told Sky News that this could be a result of the proximity of Helene and the residents' recent experience there. As well PTSD from Hurricane Ian two years ago.

Looking for loved one after Milton? The American Red Cross offers help

The American Red Cross has launched an online Reunification Portal for individuals looking for loved ones after Hurricane Milton. The webpage and services is also open to those still searching for family or friends in the five worst affected states by Hurricane Helene that can't be located.

Death toll from Hurricane Milton rises to ten

The death toll from Hurricane Milton has risen to 10 confirmed so far reports NBC. However, that number is expected to rise as search and rescue crews look through rubble left by the massive storm that tore across the state.

In St Lucie County there are now five reported deaths.Two fatalities have been confirmed by St Petersburg police. And three people in Volusia County died according to Sheriff Michael J. Chitwood.

Cleanup begins in Florida after Hurricane Milton

Authorities are urging residents to stay indoors so that authorities can complete the cleanup. 

FEMA adivses to text not call loved ones to keep phone lines free

Florida officials have asked people not to flock to areas that were struck by Hurricane Milton in order to keep roads clear for emergency services as they search for victims of the powerful storm.

Likewise, FEMA is advising to text loved ones instead of calling so that phone lines are kept clear for emergency calls for those in immediate danger and emergency responders.

WEATHER

Hurricane Milton: The real-life machines that control our weather

While conspiracy theories about government-controlled weather machines have gained traction online, the real culprits behind our changing climate are far more mundane yet vastly more impactful: oil rigs, fracking operations, and the fossil fuel industry at large.

Read more

Death toll rises to four from Hurricane Milton's landfall in Florida

At least four people have been killed by the passage of Hurricane Milton through Florida, according to a new toll released Thursday by local authorities, who are still trying to assess damage after a storm of rain and wind.

St. Lucie County has confirmed that four people have died from the tornadoes that have hit the area. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis explained in an interview on CNBC that the state has recorded “many” tornadoes.

“We will know better what happened as the day progresses,” said the governor, explaining the deployment of emergency services in some of the counties most affected by the cyclone, which made landfall with category 3. More than three million homes and businesses have been left without power throughout the state.

Florida officials ask favor of those who return home after evacuating from Milton

During a press conference to update Floridians on Hurricane Milton, which has moved offshore but still presents some hazards to the eastern part of the state, Director FL Division of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie thanked residents who heeded the call to evacuate. He told them that they should be in no hurry to return though.

Emergency crews have just begun to assess the situation where the monster storm passed over the state. He asked those returning to contact their local emergency agency to see if it is safe to return before doing so.

Also, he asked returning evacuees to take pictures of their homes upon returning if they were flooded in order to record where the high-water mark was. Guthrie said to take pictures of both inside and outside the house, all four sides. As well as capturing reference points in the photos like doorknobs or electrical sockets.

Hurricane Milton ‘pulling away’ from Florida

The most immediate damage from the hurricane has subsided, but now the more deadly storm surge will be the greatest challenge.

Caution with flood water dangers

Florida officials gave an update on the conditions in the state in the wake of Hurricane Milton. Director FL Division of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie said that major flooding continues along Hillsborough, Little Wekiva River and St Johns Rivers. 

He warned that there will be another phase to this event similar to Hurricane Ian he said, in that the St Johns River Basin headwaters received a lot of rainfall which will take roughly 45 days for it to flush out into the Atlantic Ocean.

WEATHER

Hurricane Milton: How bad is the damage expected to be?

Authorities are beginning to assess the extensive damage from Hurricane Milton which slammed into Florida Wednesday evening as a Category 3 storm.

HURRICANE MILTON

Hurricane Milton tears roof off Rays’ stadium: What was the roof of Tropicana Field made of?

Hurricane Milton continues to wreak havoc in Florida as it completely blew the roof off of Tropicana Field on Wednesday evening.

WEATHER

The stunning connection between hurricanes and Waffle House

The Waffle House Index is a practical and easily understandable way to evaluate the impact of disasters in the US. It is unofficially used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after being coined and popularised by former FEMA administrator Craig Fugate.

The Index measures the resilience and preparedness of an area in the face of a disaster, such as a hurricane or tornado. The index is based on the status of Waffle House restaurants in the affected area.

Hurricane Milton is now 75 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Storm Surge Warning has been discontinued for the west coast of Florida but remains in effect for large swaths of the east coast. Strong gusty winds and heavy rainfall are still occuring near the Space Coast adivses the National .Hurricane Center

Birds trapped in the eye of Milton as it entered Florida

Birds have been known to get trapped in the eyes of hurricanes as the blue-toned in radar image shows in this post on social media.

Hurricane Idalia in 2023 for example gave bird watchers as far north as Ohio an unexpected surprise, American flamingos. They are native to the Caribbean and the north of South America but were believed to have been caught by the storm while migrating.

Greenpeace demands oil companies assume their “responsibilities” in the wake of Hurricane Milton

Greenpeace has demanded that oil companies assume their “responsibility” with respect to hurricane Milton, which has already left over three million homes without electricity supply and an undetermined number of deaths in the United States.

In their opinion, these companies are mainly responsible for the climate crisis and the extreme phenomena it generates. “The evidence is overwhelming: climate change is fueling the extreme weather patterns we are witnessing worldwide,” states the NGO

Thus, the climate activists believe that in order to stop “ever more climate-wrecking fossil fuels”  being dug up it is urgently necessary to “force them to pay for the climate damages devastating our communities.”

First images of the storm surge released

“Multiple” deaths have been confirmed in St Lucie County on Florida’s Atlantic coast, County Sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed.

“Dozens” of Tornadoes were spawned, county spokesperson Erick Gill said. “Several fatalities” have been confirmed after a tornado struck Spanish Lakes Country Club, Pearson said.

Milton still producing damaging hurricane-force winds, heavy rain in Florida

Hurricane Milton is moving northeast out into the Atlantic at roughly 18 mph according to the National Hurricane Center. However, while the monster storm has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with 85mph winds, it still presents a threat to east-central Florida warns the agency, where it is producing hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall.

Police chief's ‘bleak’ prediction for those who didn't leave in time

“What we’ll probably be finding in the morning are bodies...it’s bleak in some of these areas,” Chief of the Bradenton Police Department Melanie Bevan told BBC Radio 4’s Today program.

Police had encouraged people to write their names on their bodies so they can be identified.

City of Sarasota begins to assess damage from Hurricane Milton

The Sarasota Tactical First-in Response Teams are heading out to assess conditions in the wake of Hurricane Milton. They will be clearing primary north-south and east-west roads.

Milton shreds Tropicana Field roof

Earlier this week, DeSantis announced that the home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg would serve as a 10,000-person base camp for debris cleanup operations and first responders.

Hurricane Milton, however, had other plans for the stadium, shredding the domed roof of Tropicana Field. Multiple news outlets report that there were no injuries.

WEATHER

Hurricane Milton: Florida power outage map | Which areas

As Hurricane Milton carved a destructive path across Florida, millions of residents found themselves plunged into darkness. The powerful Category 3 storm made landfall near Siesta Key on Wednesday night, leaving a trail of widespread power outages in its wake.

All the affected areas.

Over 3.3 million Floridians without power in the wake of Milton

Hurricane Milton crashed into Florida yesterday evening as a Category 3 storm and then proceeded to grind its way across the state. While Milton is now moving out into the Atlantic authorities warn that the danger isn’t over yet as additional rainfall and high tides could create flooding.

Tropical storm-force winds extended out to 255 miles bringing down trees and damaging homes and power infrastructure. Currently, over 3.3 million households are without power according to PowerOutage.us.

Milton downgraded to category 2 hurricane

Milton has been downgraded to a high-end category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph.

A flash flood emergency remains in effect for the Tampa Bay area as the hurricane moves further inland. The areas under this emergency include the cites of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater.

Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg has received more than 16 inches of rain so far today.

WEATHER

What is a storm surge and how far can it come inland?

This natural occurrence is characterised by an abnormal rise in sea level that accompanies a storm as it moves toward land. Combined with high tides, the surge led to the inundation of beaches and coastal communities, including Surfside Beach.

Milton’s size is so vast that Tampa’s record surge of 7.6ft just last week will be doubled by Milton to 15 ft.

Read more on these terrifying conditions.

Storm surge begins in Florida

Florida is expecting catastrophic flooding due to Hurricane Milton not only due to the amount of rain the storm is expected to dump, but also due to life-threatening storm surges.

WEATHER

Hurricane Milton: Emergency numbers you can call in the United States

In anticipation of Hurricane Milton’s arrival and the impending danger the storm poses, here are emergency resources available in the state of Florida.

Hundreds of thousands without power in Florida

Hurricane Milton’s powerful winds are causing power outages for hundreds of thousands of Florida residents. According to PowerOutage.us, more than 500,000 homes and businesses in the state are without electricity.

More people will find themselves without power as Milton travels through the state overnight and its hurricane-force winds continue to blast from its center.

Milton makes landfall as Category 3 hurricane

Milton made landfall as a category 3 hurricane near Siesta Key in Sarasota County along the west of Florida, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph.

The National Hurricane Center warns of life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding over the Central Florida peninsula.

Welcome

As Hurricane Milton continues its devastating path across Florida, we bring you live updates on this powerful storm.

Milton made landfall late Wednesday night near Sarasota as a Category 3 hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. The storm has already left over two million people without power and is expected to cause catastrophic flooding with storm surges reaching up to 13 feet along the Gulf Coast.