Forecasters warn the immense and powerful storm could generate “life-threatening” storm surge of up to 15 feet in a region that’s particularly…
. The storm is forecast to make landfall late Wednesday on the state's west coast, threatening life and property with towering storm surges, devastating winds and catastrophic flooding.on the Florida Gulf Coast near Tampa and St. Petersburg, the National Hurricane Center said in its 7 p.m. ET update. Milton had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and was about 35 miles west-southwest of Sarasota, the NHC said.
Officials have warned that anyone staying behind must fend for themselves, as first responders are not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm. With Milton targeting communities still reeling from Hurricane Helene, many residents who are hunkering down are concerned about the dangers posed by the piles of debris left in Helene's wake. State and local governments scrambled ahead of the storm to clear as much debris as possible to prevent the loose wreckage from becoming flying projectiles. Still, piles of soggy furniture, appliances and other trash remained.
Mexican officials said no fatalities have been reported, only minor damages such as waterlogged roads, fallen trees, and power outages.One problem for Florida's western coastline is the region's topography. The state's coastline along the Gulf of Mexico isn’t very deep, and it features a gentle underwater slope, allowing Milton to more easily push water up the continental shelf, Cody Fritz, the Storm Surge Unit Team Lead at the National Hurricane Center told NBC News.
"No one should be confused," he said. “Milton still carries incredible destructiveness that can wipe out communities." “This is the real deal here with Milton,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said during a news conference. “If you want to take on Mother Nature, she wins 100% of the time."
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