Emergency officials warn against ‘reverse surge’ in Tampa Bay
Water is being drained out of Tampa Bay as Milton moves southward into Florida, resulting in what is typically referred to as a ‘reverse’ surge.
A normal storm surge sees wind pushing water onto shore, however a reverse surge sees winds draining water out instead. This occurs because a hurricane’s winds blow counterclockwise, so with Milton passing south of Tampa Bay, winds to the north of the storm are blowing in from the east consequently pushing water away from the shoreline.
However, emergency officials caution that water may rise up again and warn residents to not walk near areas that are experiencing a reverse surge.
Taking to Twitter, the Florida Division of Emergency Management wrote: “Do not walk out into receding water in Tampa Bay – the water WILL return through storm surge and poses a life-threatening risk.”
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency, the highest level of flood warning, for Tampa, Saint Petersburg, and Clearwater.
“Between 10 and 14 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is already occurring,” the NWS said. “This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!”
Meanwhile, warnings have been issued for Orlando, Deltona, and Daytona Beach until 11:45pm EDT, as well as Brandon, Lakeland, and Palm Harbor FL until 1:00am EDT.
More than 1 million customers in Florida without power
According to PowerOutage.us, more than 1 millions customers in Florida are currently without power after Milton made landfall.
Florida emergency officials urge residents to stay in shelters
After Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in Sarasota County near Siesta Key, the Florida Division of Emergency Management urged residents to ‘continue to shelter.’
“Residents should continue to shelter in place & remain vigilant,” the division wrote in a Facebook post minutes ago. “Deadly hazards & conditions are present well into Thursday as the storm continues to move across the state.”
Heavy rain and strong winds are currently slamming parts of the state, while areas like Tampa are reportedly experiencing flash flooding.
Milton makes landfall in Florida
At 8:30pm EDT, the National Hurricane Center announced that Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida as a Category 3 hurricane.
“Extremely dangerous Category 3 hurricane Milton makes landfall near Siesta Key Florida,” the center wrote in their latest update. “Life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding occurring over the central Florida Peninsula.”
Flash flood warnings issued in parts of Florida
At around 8:24 pm EDT, NWS Tampa Bay issued a flash flood warning for different parts of Florida.
“Flash Flood Warning including Tampa FL, Saint Petersburg FL and Clearwater FL until 11:30 PM EDT,” they wrote on Twitter.
Milton is ‘close to making landfall’
The latest data from the National Hurricane Center indicates that Milton is around an hour away from making landfall.
As of 8pm EDT, Milton is centered 20 miles southwest of Sarasota, Florida and is moving eastward at 15 mph. It is still packing winds of 120 mph and has so far remained a strong Category 3 hurricane.
The center’s latest update reads, “Milton close to making landfall along the coast of west-central Florida.”
“Life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains occurring across portions of central and southwestern Florida,” they added.
Over 500,000 customers in Florida without power
As of 8 pm EDT, PowerOutage.us indicates that over 500,000 customers in Florida are currently without power. As the hurricane continues to move inward, more outages are expected to occur.
CNN reports that a spokesperson for Duke Energy Florida’s service warned that there could be up to 1 million outages.
Extreme wind warning issued in parts of Florida
At around 6:30pm EDT, the National Weather Service for Tampa Bay issued an extreme wind warning after Milton was reported to pack winds at 120 mph.
“An extreme wind warning is in effect for Tampa FL, Saint Petersburg FL, Clearwater FL until 9:30 PM EDT for extremely dangerous hurricane winds,” the NWS Tampa Bay wrote on Twitter. “Treat these imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching and move immediately to an interior or shelter NOW!”
A similar warning was issued by The National Hurricane Center that added that the “Northern eyewall of Hurricane Milton is beginning to move onshore of the Florida gulf coast near Tampa and St. Petersburg where an Extreme Wind Warning is now in effect.
“Please shelter in place as these extremely dangerous hurricane-force winds overspread the region.”
Featured Image Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images / Spencer Platt/Getty Images
