WATCH LIVE: White House holds briefing as Hurricane Milton nears landfall

A powerful Hurricane Milton swept through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida on Wednesday, potentially inundating one of the state’s largest population centers with massive storm surges, heavy rain and damaging winds, just two weeks after deadly Hurricane Helene slammed the coast.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is scheduled to hold a news conference at 1:30 p.m. EDT. Watch it in the player above.

Milton was at Category 4 status Wednesday morning after spending much of Tuesday at Category 5 status. It threatens the Tampa Bay area, home to more than 3.3 million people and which has managed to escape the direct hit of a major hurricane for more than 100 years. Milton also threatens parts of Florida’s west coast that were heavily damaged when Helene came ashore on September 26.

Traffic was heavy as people fled the Tampa area outside Milton. During the evacuation, crews along the coast rushed to clear Helene’s debris so that Milton would not turn them into dangerous projectiles.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center warned that Milton “is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane” as it approaches the Florida coast.

When will Milton land and how strong will it be?

Milton is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast late Wednesday or early Thursday.

“We must be prepared for major impacts on Florida’s West Coast,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday.

As of Wednesday morning, the storm was about 250 miles (405 kilometers) southwest of Tampa, with sustained winds of 155 miles per hour (250 km/h).

“A northeastward movement with some increase in forward velocity is expected through Wednesday evening,” the hurricane center said.

President Joe Biden, who postponed a trip abroad so he could stay in the White House and monitor Milton, warned that it could be “one of the worst storms in 100 years to hit Florida.”

With Milton expected to remain fairly strong as it makes its way through Florida, hurricane warnings were extended to parts of the state’s east coast early Tuesday.

Why do scientists say this is a strange storm season?

Milton is just the latest system in a storm season that scientists say is the strangest they’ve ever seen.

Forecasters predicted a busy Atlantic hurricane season before it began, and it began when Beryl became the first storm ever to reach Category 5. But there was record calm from August 20 – the traditional start of peak hurricane season – to September 23, said hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University.

Then between September 26 and October 6, five hurricanes appeared – more than double the old record of two. On Sunday and Monday there were three hurricanes at the same time in October, which had never happened before, said Klotzbach. In just 46.5 hours, Hurricane Milton grew from a tropical storm with winds of 40 miles per hour to a top Category 5 hurricane.

As hurricanes devastate the lives of millions of people in the United States, some may wonder whether it is possible to control extreme weather events. But scientists say hurricanes are far too powerful for that, and climate change is providing fuel for storms like Helene and Milton more than ever.

How much damage is expected?

Florida’s Gulf Coast is particularly vulnerable to storm surges.

Helene came ashore about 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of Tampa in the Florida Panhandle and still caused drowning deaths in the Tampa area due to flooding that was about 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.5 meters) above normal tide levels.
With Milton, forecasters are warning of a possible storm surge of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) in Tampa Bay. It is the largest surge ever predicted for this location and has led to evacuation orders for communities along the entire coast.

The county in which Tampa is located ordered the areas bordering the bay and all mobile and manufactured homes to be evacuated by Tuesday evening. With storm surge predicted that could swallow a one-story home, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor issued an increasingly dire warning Tuesday to those trying to weather the storm: “So if you’re in it, that’s basically the coffin that you’re in.” You are located.” .”

According to the hurricane center, Milton is expected to pass through central Florida, dumping up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) of rain on its way to the Atlantic Ocean.

What if I have travel plans to Florida?

Tampa International Airport suspended flights Tuesday morning and posted on X that it was not a shelter for people or their cars. And nearby St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport said it was in a mandatory evacuation zone and closed after the last flight departed Tuesday. All flights were canceled on Wednesday and Thursday, it said.

The tourism machine in Orlando, about 85 miles (135 kilometers) inland from Tampa, ground to a halt Tuesday. Orlando International Airport — the seventh-busiest airport in the country and Florida’s busiest airport — announced it would suspend operations Wednesday morning. And at least three major theme parks – Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld – are closing, with the latter two also remaining closed on Thursday and Disney likely to follow suit.

Is it difficult to get gas?

The search for gas has added to the stress for some Floridians.

There were long lines and empty pumps at some Florida gas stations on Tuesday as they struggled to keep up with demand. DeSantis said state officials were working with fuel companies to continue supplying gasoline before the storm hit.

Although DeSantis said there is no fuel shortage, finding gasoline is another nerve-wracking task for people preparing for a major hurricane. GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said “replenishment is coming,” but as of Tuesday evening, about 17.4% of Florida gas stations were out of fuel. More than 46% of the stations in the Tampa-St. According to GasBuddy, there was no gas in the Petersburg area Tuesday evening.

“You have to be patient,” said Stephanie Grover-Brock, a Tampa resident waiting in line for gas in the nearby Riverview area.
Ned Bowman, a spokesman for the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, said the situation was typical of a Florida hurricane – demand was peaking and some gas stations were temporarily out of service. He said suppliers are “constantly” transporting fuel to gas stations.

How was Mexico affected?

As Milton made his way to Florida, authorities in the Mexican state of Yucatan reported little storm damage. According to Yucatan Governor Joaquín Díaz, power lines, light poles and trees near the coast were downed and some small thatched buildings were destroyed. He reported no deaths or injuries.