As Hurricane Milton churns toward Florida’s west coast, a chilling simulation by The Weather Channel has exposed the catastrophic impact this Category 5 storm could unleash on the Tampa Bay area. The video, included below, offers a stark visualization of the life-threatening storm surge that residents may soon face.
The simulation predicts a storm surge of 10 to 15 feet for the Tampa area, a level meteorologists are calling “catastrophic.” This surge, combined with Milton’s intense winds and heavy rainfall, poses an extreme threat to life and property.
Weather Channel meteorologist Stephanie Abrams, narrating the simulation, paints a grim picture of the escalating danger.
“At 3 feet, water is already life-threatening,” Abrams warns. “It’s too late to evacuate. Water can knock you off your feet.”
The situation rapidly deteriorates as water levels rise. At 6 feet, vehicles are carried away and structures begin to fail.
When the surge exceeds 9 feet, Abrams states, “First floors of structures are completely flooded and there are few places that are safe.”
As of Wednesday morning, Hurricane Milton loomed about 250 miles southwest of Tampa, with sustained winds of 155 mph. While it’s expected to weaken slightly before landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday, it will likely remain a historically dangerous hurricane as it crosses Florida. The storm’s rapid intensification – from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in just 46.5 hours – has left many Floridians scrambling to prepare.
Mandatory evacuations are in effect for coastal areas and mobile homes near Tampa. However, officials warn that for many, it may already be too late to safely leave. Those who haven’t evacuated are urged to seek the highest ground possible within a safe structure. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor didn’t mince words in her warning to those planning to ride out the storm: “If you’re in it, basically that’s the coffin that you’re in.”
The threat extends beyond the immediate coastal areas. As Milton crosses central Florida, it’s expected to dump up to 18 inches of rain, posing a significant flood risk across the state and threatening critical infrastructure. Even as the storm weakens over land, it will continue to pound central and eastern Florida.
Hurricane Milton threatens to be a historic storm for the Tampa Bay area, which has avoided a direct hit from a major hurricane for over a century. The predicted storm surge could be the highest ever recorded in the region.
Residents are urged to heed all warnings from local officials and take every possible precaution to ensure their safety.
Hurricane Milton is expected to bring a destructive storm surge to Florida's west coast. @StephanieAbrams uses our FloodFX simulation technology to show you what that could look like ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rg996zNHy2
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) October 8, 2024
Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to track this extremely dangerous hurricane.