After "Helene The next monster storm races towards Florida

Storm "Helene" claimed the lives of more than 200 people in the south-east of the USA. Now the next storm threat is imminent with "Milton".

Keystone-SDA

07.10.2024, 04:55

SDA

After the devastating storm "Helene" in the south-east of the USA, people in the state of Florida have to prepare for another severe storm. Tropical storm "Milton" over the Gulf of Mexico was upgraded this afternoon (local time) to a hurricane of the first of five categories with sustained wind speeds of up to 128 kilometers per hour. According to forecasts, "Milton" is expected to make landfall as a hurricane on Florida's west coast in the middle of the week. The hurricane center warned of life-threatening storm surges and destructive winds.

In preparation for Tropical Storm Milton, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 35 counties on Saturday (local time). The National Weather Service announced on the online service X that the storm currently raging in the west of the Gulf of Mexico is expected to develop into "a major hurricane" as it moves towards Florida.

According to the weather service, "Milton" is expected to hit Florida's west coast in the middle of the week. Just over a week ago, the storm "Helene" made landfall in northwest Florida as the second-highest category hurricane. The storm then weakened, but caused severe flooding and destruction on its way north. According to consistent media reports, more than 200 people in six states lost their lives - in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Hurricane season continues until the end of November

Tropical cyclones form over 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.