The storm, described as a fierce, level 17 storm, is heading straight for Florida, USA.

The latest Apnews report on the development of Hurricane Milton, the strongest storm on the planet, shows that while it is weakening slightly, it remains a fierce hurricane capable of directly impacting Tampa and St. Petersburg, generating record-breaking waves and turning debris from Hurricane Helene 12 days earlier into flying objects.

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm on the Florida Gulf Coast, with its eye potentially making landfall in Tampa.

Before downgrading, Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico had strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane – the strongest category on the Saffir–Simpson scale used in the US – with winds of 290 km/h, according to CNN. On the Vietnamese scale, this is above Category 17 (Category 17 winds are 202-220 km/h).

"At its peak, Milton surpassed the most intense storms of the year in the Western Pacific to become the strongest storm on the planet this year," according to CNN.

Developments of Milton, the strongest hurricane on the planet: The storm, described as fierce, is heading towards Tampa Bay, Florida (USA). Photo: NHC.

Thus, Hurricane Milton has become the world's strongest hurricane this year, surpassing Hurricane Beryl (with maximum wind speeds of 265.5 km/h), according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

According to CBS News, Hurricane Milton "exploded" in intensity in the southern Gulf of Mexico as it continued its path toward Florida. Milton experienced a rapid intensification from a tropical storm on Sunday morning to a Category 5 hurricane in just 24 hours. By early Tuesday morning, it had reverted to a Category 4.

In each public advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center, the path of this hurricane system is also adjusted. Milton's predicted path is toward the west coast of Florida, but the location of the storm's center, or "eye," could impact the Tampa Bay area.

As Milton intensified into a major hurricane with wind speeds exceeding 180 miles per hour on Monday, the system's strength increased the severity of storm surge forecasts in all coastal areas, including the Florida Gulf Coast.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has raised its forecast for peak storm surges from 8-12 feet to 10-15 feet, causing flooding in the area from the Anclote River to Tampa Bay. "Just two weeks after Hurricane Helene broke storm surge records in Tampa, Milton is forecast to generate even higher storm surges," the NHC warned.

In an earlier announcement, the NHC stated: "Although variations in intensity are expected, Milton is still forecast to be an extremely dangerous hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida."

All coastal residents and visitors are being advised to comply with evacuation orders from current local officials.

Learning from Hurricane Helene, local authorities this time have urged residents to move to safety quickly. American media predict this evacuation will be the largest in the state since Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Hurricane warnings are now in effect on both the east and west coasts of Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches.

Having just suffered devastating destruction from Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 superstorm, less than two weeks ago, residents of Florida's coastal counties are now frantically preparing to respond to Milton. Hurricane Helene killed more than 225 people in Florida and five other southeastern states in late September, many of whom refused to evacuate.

According to CNN, rescue teams on the peninsula that forms Tampa Bay have taken precautionary measures and removed beach chairs and other items that could become dangerous debris due to strong winds in Milton.

Elsewhere, stoves, chairs, refrigerators, and kitchen counters are piled up waiting to be cleaned up. Sarah Steslicki, who lives in Belleair Beach, said she was disappointed that more debris wasn't collected sooner.

"If this storm actually makes landfall, it will become flying missiles," she told the Associated Press on Monday. "Those things will float around in the air."

Source: https://danviet.vn/dien-bien-sieu-bao-manh-nhat-hanh-tinh-milton-con-bao-duoc-mo-ta-du-doi-tren-cap-17-dang-tien-thang-florida-my-20241008212008893.htm