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RFloridians are reeling from Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm that killed at least 14 people, knocked out power to 3.4 million people and caused significant damage that is yet to be determined.
Hundreds of people were rescued in the aftermath of Thursday’s storm. It brought historic downpours to Tampa, littering the streets with debris and trees and leaving the Tampa Bay Rays’ St. Petersburg Field in shambles.
With evacuation warnings sounded for millions, experts warned this could be one of the deadliest and most destructive storms in recent years, just as residents began collecting debris from Hurricane Helen last month.
With the toll of destruction still uncertain, how does Milton compare to the deadliest hurricanes of the 21st century?
Hurricane Milton made landfall for the first time Wednesday night near Siesta Key in western Florida, with maximum sustained winds reaching 120 mph. The hurricane spawned dozens of tornadoes, heavy rain and 28-foot waves along the Gulf Coast.
Milton strengthened to Category 5 in the Gulf of Mexico but weakened before landfall.
Florida is no stranger to hurricanes. Category 4 Helene caused major damage just a few weeks ago. In fact, as shown in the map above, four of the seven deadliest hurricanes since 2000 had significant impacts in Florida. Those four are in addition to Helene.
The deadliest hurricanes all come from the Atlantic Ocean and increase in speed, size and pressure in the Gulf of Mexico as they enter warmer oceans.
By late Thursday, the death toll from Hurricane Milton had reached 14, but the situation was rapidly evolving. Search and rescue operations were still underway in the state on Thursday night.
The worst hurricane of the century was Katrina in 2005, which killed 1,392 people. The majority of these deaths have been confirmed in Louisiana, with many occurring in the city of New Orleans.
But the recent Hurricane Helene is hot on its heels, with a death toll of more than 228 and possibly hundreds more missing. The states most affected were the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.
Hurricanes can cause billions of dollars worth of damage in a matter of hours or days.
Since 2000, the seven deadliest hurricanes alone have caused more than $500 million in damage (more than $570 million), and that’s not even counting the dozens of hurricanes that have caused damage on land.
Hurricane Ian of 2022 was the costliest hurricane in recent history, causing $133 billion in damage, particularly across Florida and the Carolinas.
Since Milton made landfall less than 24 hours ago, its impact cannot yet be measured. But Hurricane Helen is already estimated to have caused at least $30 billion and up to $47 billion in damage, including losses from flooding and wind, much of which was uninsured. AccuWeather said Thursday that preliminary estimates of damage and economic loss are between $160 billion and $180 billion.
Because Florida is so exposed to hurricanes and their resulting damage, there have been concerns about the viability of insurance for local homes and businesses going forward.
Millions without power
Power outages due to Hurricane Milton are at their peak. 3.4 million customersDozens of counties in Florida have experienced power outages over the past day, according to tracker PowerOutage.US.
As of mid-afternoon Thursday, more than three-quarters of customers in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties around the Tampa area reported outages, according to tracking firm FindEnergy. This amounts to hundreds of thousands of households.
The map below shows that power outages are concentrated in west-central Florida, which is in the path of the hurricane.
This puts Milton high on the list of hurricanes that have impacted power supplies and infrastructure.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma peaked with sustained winds of 132 miles per hour, causing power outages to more than 6.7 million customers in at least six states.
Meanwhile, other hurricanes, like Ida in 2021, were stronger and caused more financial damage but had less impact on power supplies.
Relationship with Climate Change
On Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned residents that there could be more hurricane activity in the coming months. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts until the end of November.
Storms decrease in October, but Third most active month According to FOX Weather, the tropical activity season has begun in the Atlantic Basin.
Two things are needed for a hurricane to form: warm water and wind. They originate in tropical areas where ocean temperatures are above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hot sea water evaporates, creating warm, humid air. Wind also causes more evaporation. The moist air rises higher into the planet’s atmosphere and begins to cool. The water vapor then condenses back into water droplets. Water droplets form storm clouds. As warm air continues to rise from the ocean, winds blow in a circle around the center, gathering thunderstorm clouds. When those winds reach a maximum sustained wind speed of 74 mph, a cyclone officially becomes a hurricane.
The Gulf of Mexico has seen record warm ocean temperatures over the past few months. These conditions add fuel to the hurricane, promoting the rapid strengthening seen in Milton.
Hurricane Milton was the Gulf’s most powerful late-season storm on record, and the most powerful hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico since Hurricane Rita in 2005.
Climate change has triggered marine heat waves in most parts of the world. Hurricanes bring stronger rain Increased storm surge due to rising sea levels.
