Hurricane Milton weakens but leaves 2m without power
Hurricane Milton, which reached the western coast of Florida, has weakened and is now classified as a category one. A video from Tampa Bay has been posted online, showing how quickly Milton drew in the water. "The water is gone," we hear in the recording.
Hurricane Milton, having impacted the western coast of Florida, has diminished in strength from a category three hurricane to a category one. As reported by the American National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Thursday, its maximum speed is now 93 mph.
Current location and impact
According to meteorologists, Milton is approximately 65 miles southwest of Cape Canaveral in Florida. As a result of the hurricane, over 2 million Americans are without power. On Wednesday, airlines cancelled about 1,900 flights, and over 60% of Tampa and St. Petersburg petrol stations were without fuel.
Effects of a category three hurricane
Milton, a category three hurricane, struck Florida on Wednesday evening local time. It brought winds exceeding 121 mph, dangerous tornadoes, and a significant threat of flooding.
The water level in the Gulf of Mexico rose by over 8 feet near Sarasota.
Milton also "sucked" water from Tampa Bay. "The water is gone. It was sucked out by Milton," says Brian Entin, national correspondent for NewsNation, in the recording.
Hurricane Milton's strength came from the unusually warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It twice achieved category five hurricane status, with a maximum sustained wind speed close to 205 mph.
