Hurricane Milton is made landfall near Tampa Wednesday evening, with strong winds, heavy rain, and powerful storm surge expected. Rain totals will exceed several inches in places like Tampa and Orlando. The hurricane is currently a category 3 hurricane as of 4:45pm pacific time, and is forecasted to still be a category 1 hurricane as it leaves Florida on the eastern coastline Thursday. Storm surge could reach 12 feet in places just south of Tampa through Fort Meyers. This is a fairly fast storm and will be able to keep its tropical characteristics as it moves inland. This means places like Orlando will experience hurricane force winds as well.
A major hurricane has sustained winds of at least 111 mph and a category 1 hurricane has sustained winds of at least 74 mph. A major hurricane produces lots of damage, and is devastating. A category 4 and 5 hurricane is catastrophic. The Saffir Simpson Scale is based on wind, but flooding can be just as dangerous. Wind only accounts for 11% of fatalities directly related to tropical cyclones, water accounts for 86%.
Katrina is still the costliest hurricane in U.S history since 1900, not including Helene. Helene is costing the country a lot of money in repairs as well. Katrina made landfall in 2005 as a category 3 hurricane, and cost 197.5 billion dollars in damages. Hurricane Harvey was a heavy rain producer and slow moving, taking the second spot with 157.5 billion dollars in damages. Hurricane Ian made landfall in 2022, and cost the country 117.4 billion dollars in damages.
Hurricane Patricia is the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the western hemisphere, based on pressure since 1900 with a pressure of 872 mb. Patricia also had sustained winds of 210mph before making landfall in southwest Mexico as a category 4 hurricane on October 23rd, in 2015. Hurricane Wilma takes the second spot with a pressure of 882 mb and sustained winds of 185 mph. Strong winds also contributes to more storm surge.
