MIAMI, United States. – The Institute of Meteorology of Cuba (INSMET) indicated in a newsletter that the first effects caused by Hurricane Milton on the Island began to be felt in the western region of the country since Monday night, with moderate winds, rains and dangerous waves.
At 7:00 a.m. this Tuesday, the powerful Hurricane Milton, currently a category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, was 165 kilometers northeast of Progreso, in Mexico, and 880 kilometers southwest of the city of Tampa, Florida.
INSMET warned that the provinces of Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Havana, Mayabeque and Isla de la Juventud will experience sustained winds of between 25 and 40 km/h, with higher gusts of up to 50 km/h in Pinar del Río. According to the weather report, the waves on the southern coast of the western region are expected to gradually increase to swells, which could cause light to moderate coastal flooding.
In addition, weather conditions will remain unstable throughout this Tuesday due to the feeding bands of the cyclonic system.
For its part, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States rated Milton as “an extremely dangerous hurricane.” With sustained winds of 250 km/h it has generated great concerns in the Florida peninsula, where it is headed.
4 a.m. CDT – Extremely powerful Hurricane #Milton It is just north of the Yucatan Peninsula. Forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane when it reaches Florida Wednesday night. This is a very serious threat and residents in Florida are urged to listen to local officials.… pic.twitter.com/UifYnQO9rf
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 8, 2024
The NHC noted that “Milton is moving east-northeast at a speed of 19 km/h and is expected to pass near the Yucatan Peninsula before approaching the west coast of Mexico.” Florida on Wednesday”. The hurricane has a minimum central pressure of 925 mb, which confirms its extreme power.
Florida has issued warnings and mandatory evacuation orders in several coastal areas, due to the imminent arrival of Milton. “Florida residents should use today to prepare and evacuate if directed by local authorities,” the NHC said in its latest bulletin.
Meteorological authorities in the United States have also reported that Milton will generate a dangerous storm surge in the so-called Sunshine State, with waves that could reach between 10 and 15 feet high in some areas, in addition to intense rains that will cause severe flooding.
