Florida is battling devastating rains and damaging winds as Hurricane Milton made landfall in the U.S state on October 10. According to reports, the category 5 Hurricane struck the west coast at around 6 am IST. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued warnings of a flash floods and asked residents in areas such as Tampa, Saint Petersburg and Clearwater to take shelter from the 'extremely dangerous' winds.
Citing the radar data, the NHC said Hurricane Milton, which formed in the Gulf Of Mexico, made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County on the western coast with winds up to 193 km per hour.
One of the satellites of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was observing the Hurricane as it approached the sunshine state.
This imagery from @NOAA's #GOESEast π°️ is providing visible cloud imagery every 30 seconds of #HurricaneMilton as it pushes closer to Florida. Notice the frequent #lightning being picked up by the satellite's #GLM instrument as well.
Get the latest on #Milton:… https://t.co/33Yng1EYNC pic.twitter.com/5Xjb2K2Y49 — NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) October 9, 2024
The NOAA shared the scary video of the Hurricane's landfall event as the storm spread into Florida. The video also captured the intense lightning in the storm from space. Social media is flooded with visuals from Florida, showing uprooted trees, houses without roofs and disrupted power lines.
Tornado damage here in Fort Myers ahead of Hurricane #Milton making landfall. Roofs completely blown off homes. People now seeking alternate shelter. Orangewood Avenue. Downed trees, power lines, fences. Power is out. Thankfully, no reported injuries.@accuweather pic.twitter.com/bqYsZB2iek — Ali Reid (@alireidtv) October 9, 2024
The view from our window as we ride out the storm. The roof of Tropicana Field is destroyed by the winds of #HurricaneMilton. Praying for Tampa Bay and all areas affected. Stay safe, everyone pic.twitter.com/uy0aNGMAuJ — Dave Moore (@DaveMoore_83) October 10, 2024
❗️ππΊπ² - A security camera captured the moment an apparent tornado passed through a home in Fort Myers, Florida.
Category 4 Hurricane Milton is approaching the west coast of Florida and is expected to hit the Tampa Bay region on Wednesday night.
More than 300 miles of… pic.twitter.com/TwnTv6OtPH — π₯πThe Informant (@theinformant_x) October 9, 2024
More than two million homes and businesses are without power, The Guardian reported. Videos of massive tornadoes formed out of the storm is also going viral online.
ALSO SEE: Historic Triple Hurricane Threat Hits Atlantic Basin In Unprecedented October Event
OMG! Tornadoes generated by Hurricane #Milton have devastated many areas of #Florida. We have to pray for the safety of the people of Florida. #miltonhurricane #HurricaneMilton #TampaBay #FLwx #Tornado #AgathaAllAlong pic.twitter.com/esl3i4pZzO — Fire Bred (@firebred_) October 10, 2024
Meanwhile, the damaging winds have reached Florida's east coast from where NASA and SpaceX launch their rockets. The bad weather also led to a delay in the launch of the Europa Clipper mission. According to the NHC, a gust of 108 km per hour was reported at a NASA weather station in Cape Canaveral.
ALSO SEE: Plane Flies Into Hurricane Milton, Captures Turbulent Footage
(Image: NOAA)