Tornado Strikes Florida Highway as Hurricane Milton Nears, Bringing ‘Catastrophic’ Threat

As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida’s west coast, a powerful tornado has hit a highway, further escalating the dangerous conditions brought by the massive Category 4 storm. With sustained winds near 145 mph, Milton is expected to make landfall soon, bringing a life-threatening storm surge of up to 15 feet between Tampa and Port Charlotte, according to Michael Brennan, the director of the National Hurricane Center.

Brennan warned that urban and flash flooding could persist into Thursday, posing a significant risk, especially given the tragic loss of 16 lives in the same area during Hurricane Ian in 2022. He explained that Tampa is particularly vulnerable, with even a minor shift in the storm’s path potentially directing the worst of the storm surge directly into the city.

“As close as we are to landfall, it’s not really possible to tell exactly where that worst surge will occur,” Brennan cautioned, noting that a “wobble” in the storm’s track could move it by just 10 or 20 miles, drastically altering the impacts.

Brennan highlighted that Tampa Bay’s geography funnels water into the region, which could lead to a storm surge potentially double what the city experienced during Hurricane Helene. Florida’s western and northeastern coasts are bracing for some form of surge, but Tampa remains one of the most at-risk areas, where surges could reach up to 15 feet.

Residents in affected areas are urged to heed evacuation orders and take immediate precautions as the storm bears down on Florida’s vulnerable coast.