Posted on 10/08/2024 1:04:49 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Residents along Florida’s Gulf Coast were fleeing in droves on Tuesday ahead of Hurricane Milton’s predicted landfall, in what officials said was likely to be the biggest evacuation the state has seen since Hurricane Irma struck in 2017. Evacuees have faced hourslong traffic jams on highways and gas stations running out of fuel.
Nine counties in Florida, including some inland ones, have ordered mandatory evacuations for Milton, the strongest Gulf storm since 2005. Officials were preparing for “the largest evacuation that we have seen, most likely, since 2017’s Hurricane Irma,” Kevin Guthrie, the executive director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management said in a news conference on Sunday.
That storm prompted the largest hurricane evacuation in the state’s history, with about 6.5 million people fleeing their homes.
Officials have warned residents in evacuation zones to leave as early as possible to avoid traffic jams. “This will be one of the largest evacuations along our state’s west coast. If you wait, you will get stuck in traffic,” the government of Sarasota County, which issued evacuations orders, said Monday on social media.
But those who fled north on Monday were already reporting heavy traffic, gas stations that had run out of fuel and trips taking several hours longer than usual.
Jacqueline Camenisch, 62, from Kentucky, cut short her family vacation in Orlando and drove north on Monday evening with her children and grandchildren to Panama City. She had initially wanted to evacuate the family to Gainesville, about 100 miles north, she said, but found that all accommodation was completely booked.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
drove from tampa to orlando last night... not even a single slow down
of course, if you’re an idiot and wait until the typical rush hour to hit the only major route between tampa and orlando then yes, you’d be stuck for a bit.
then again no one has mentioned post-storm... when I-4 will be covered in debris.
it’ll be a few days before those that came to orlando can make it back to the tampa area.
FOX just showed location in previous cone. Slightly to the right of projection. Could be a wobble or indicative of a move lower.
Waiting to see if they move the cone.
Zoom is still showing it in the same pace so far. But... The eye is starting to go back down to the east path instead of north. Probably just a wiggle.
“But... The eye is starting to go back down to the east path instead of north.”
Fox had a graphic which showed the same.
“Zoom is still showing it in the same pace so far. “
Use their timer to go back in time. “
Back roads are good if you’re in with a local redneck.
Sarasota exit Melbourne
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
https://www.weather.gov/mfl/saffirsimpson
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed. This scale estimates potential property damage. Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage. Category 1 and 2 storms are still dangerous, however, and require preventative measures. In the western North Pacific, the term “super typhoon” is used for tropical cyclones with sustained winds exceeding 150 mph. Note that all winds are using the U.S. 1-minute average.
Category One Hurricane
Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Very dangerous winds will produce some damage: Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days. Irene of 1999, Katrina of 2005, and several others were Category One hurricanes at landfall in South Florida.
Category Two Hurricane
Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage: Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks. Frances of 2004 was a Category Two when it hit just north of Palm Beach County, along with at least 10 other hurricanes which have struck South Florida since 1894.
Category Three Hurricane
Winds 111-129 mph (96-112 kt or 178-208 km/hr). Devastating damage will occur: Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes. Unnamed hurricanes of 1909, 1910, 1929, 1933, 1945, and 1949 were all Category 3 storms when they struck South Florida, as were King of 1950, Betsy of 1965, Jeanne of 2004, and Irma of 2017.
Category Four Hurricane
Winds 130-156 mph (113-136 kt or 209-251 km/hr). Catastrophic damage will occur: Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. The 1888, 1900, 1919, 1926 Great Miami, 1928 Lake Okeechobee/Palm Beach, 1947, Donna of 1960 made landfall in South Florida as Category Four hurricanes.
Category Five Hurricane
Winds 157 mph or higher (137 kt or higher or 252 km/hr or higher). Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. The Keys Hurricane of 1935 and Andrew of 1992 made landfall in South Florida as Category Five hurricanes.
Looks like it is headed right at Cape Coral now. If it doesn’t move north soon it looks like it is going to slam all of the lower half of Florida and the keys.
Doubt S FL and the keys, but landfall will be south of initial projections. We /could/ see it cross the city of Okeechobee, with the SE quadrant crossing the lake, piling lake water against the NE levee. Those levees are very high.
Enter Sarasota exit Melbourne
“Looks like it is headed right at Cape Coral now. If it doesn’t move north soon it looks like it is going to slam all of the lower half of Florida and the keys.”
ZOOM shows a slight turn to the north from 8 to 9AM.
Yep, just saw that...
It will need to jog north to get back to predicted path. If not, it is headed south of Sarasota.
Looks like I am at the north edge of the cone. Looking at 90mph winds, 6-12” rain.
You ok? Man... Looks like You are getting hammered good right now.
Doing good. The hammering is below Tampa. Worst Sarasota and below. I am just north of Tampa.
Yeah I saw you mention where you were to someone else. Just looked like you were getting a LOT of rain!
“Just looked like you were getting a LOT of rain!”
Yep. Time to drain the pool again!
Tampa didn’t get the surge but they are getting a ton of rain.
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