Hurricane Milton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Hurricane Milton

Milton near peak intensity just north of the Yucatán Peninsula on October 7
Meteorological history
Formed	October 5, 2024 (2024-10-05)
Extratropical	October 10, 2024 (2024-10-10)
Category 5 tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds	180 mph (285 km/h)
Lowest pressure	897 mbar (hPa); 26.49 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	18+
Injuries	14+
Areas affected	Mexico (Gulf Coast of Mexico and northern Yucatán Peninsula) Greater Antilles (Western Cuba) Southeastern United States (especially Florida and Georgia) Lucayan Archipelago (The Bahamas)
Part of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Milton was a super strong storm that formed in the Atlantic Ocean. It became the second most powerful tropical cyclone ever seen in the Gulf of Mexico. Only Hurricane Rita in 2005 was stronger. Milton hit the U.S. state of Florida. This happened less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene caused a lot of damage there.

Milton was the 13th storm to get a name in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. It was also the 9th hurricane, the 4th major hurricane, and the 2nd Category 5 hurricane. It was the strongest tropical cyclone in the whole world in 2024 so far.

The storm started from a weather disturbance in the western Caribbean Sea. It grew stronger in the Bay of Campeche on October 5, 2024. Two days later, it quickly became a Category 5 hurricane. Its winds reached 180 mph (285 km/h). At its strongest, its pressure was 897 mb. This made it the fifth most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded.

Milton then got a bit weaker, becoming a Category 4 storm. But it soon became a Category 5 hurricane again. Strong winds in the atmosphere made it weaken as it moved towards Florida. It became a Category 3 hurricane before hitting land near Siesta Key on the evening of October 9, 2024.

Before the hurricane hit, Florida declared a state of emergency. Many people living near the coast were told to leave their homes. People in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula also got ready for the storm. Hurricane Milton caused many tornadoes and lots of flooding in Florida. By October 11, 2024, at least 18 people had died. Sixteen deaths were in the United States and two were in Mexico.

How Hurricane Milton Formed and Grew

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) first noticed a possible storm in the western Caribbean Sea. This was on September 26. A large area of low pressure formed there. It caused some rain and thunderstorms. This system later moved into the Bay of Campeche.

By October 4, it looked more like a storm. It was called Invest 92L. The next day, the NHC named it Tropical Depression Fourteen. A few hours later, it became Tropical Storm Milton. This was because satellite data showed it had strong winds.

The storm slowly got stronger as it moved around the Bay of Campeche. It was moving slowly because there were weak steering currents. Later, a weather system over the Central United States helped guide Milton eastward. This sent it across the Gulf of Mexico. Milton was a fairly small storm. It had a small area of very strong winds.

Milton Becomes a Hurricane

On the afternoon of October 6, special planes called Hurricane Hunters flew into Milton. They found that it had become a hurricane. It even had a small eye forming. Overnight, Milton started to get much stronger very quickly. This is called explosive intensification.

The conditions were perfect for it to grow. The ocean water was very warm, about 31 °C (88 °F). There was also a lot of moisture in the air and not much wind shear. A tiny eye, only 4 nmi (7.4 km) wide, formed within the storm's deep clouds.

Milton became a major hurricane by 11:00 UTC on October 7. It became a Category 5 hurricane by 16:00 UTC on the same day. This made it the second Category 5 hurricane of the season.

Peak Strength and Weakening

Milton reached its strongest point at 00:00 UTC on October 8. Its winds were 180 mph (285 km/h). Its lowest pressure was 897 mbar (26.49 inHg). This made it the strongest hurricane since Wilma in 2005. It became the fifth-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record.

In just 24 hours, Milton's pressure dropped by 84 mb. Its winds increased by 90 mph (140 km/h). This was the third-fastest rapid strengthening in the Atlantic. It was the fastest in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane seen from the International Space Station on October 8

After reaching its peak, Milton started to weaken a bit. This happened because of an eyewall replacement cycle. It became a Category 4 storm. But a larger eye formed, and Milton became a Category 5 hurricane again. This was on the afternoon of October 8. It reached a second peak with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h).

By this time, Milton began to turn northeast. It sped up towards Florida. On October 9, strong winds in the atmosphere started to affect Milton. The storm dropped below Category 5 strength. Its eye became cloudy, and the storm looked less organized. Milton hit land around 00:30 UTC on October 10. It hit near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 hurricane. Its winds were 120 mph (195 km/h).

Milton quickly weakened over land. It moved over the Atlantic Ocean as a Category 1 hurricane. On the afternoon of October 10, Milton changed into a non-tropical storm.

Getting Ready for Hurricane Milton

People in several areas prepared for Hurricane Milton. This included Mexico, the United States, and The Bahamas.

Mexico's Preparations

On October 6, 2024, Mexico issued a tropical storm watch for the northern Yucatán Peninsula. This warning was later upgraded to a hurricane warning. About 2,711 people chose to leave Isla Holbox. The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) sent many workers and equipment to prepare for power outages. The Secretariat of the Navy also sent the Mexican Navy to help distribute supplies. Train services on the Tren Maya were stopped.

People in Mérida bought a lot of supplies quickly. Non-essential government services and public transportation were stopped in parts of Yucatán. The Governor ordered all schools and ports in Yucatán to close.

United States Preparations

Florida Gets Ready

Emergency shoulder use on eastbound I-4 near Lakeland on October 7

A house in Port Charlotte boarded up for Hurricane Milton

On October 5, 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency. He ordered that places for managing debris stay open all the time. This was to help clear away trash from Hurricane Helene before Milton arrived. He also increased the number of Florida National Guard members helping with debris removal. Dump trucks were used to help move large piles of debris. People across the state also filled sandbags to protect their homes.

Two days later, hurricane warnings were issued for Florida's West Coast. Nearly 15 million people in Florida were under flood watches. President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for the state. Governor DeSantis told state agencies to work together. He also stopped tolls on many roads in western Florida to help people evacuate.

Public schools in over 50 counties closed. Twenty-three public colleges and universities also closed. This included the University of South Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University. Some counties opened schools as emergency shelters.

Trains like Amtrak's Silver Service and Auto Train were suspended. Many airports in Florida closed temporarily. This included Tampa International Airport and Orlando International Airport. Thousands of flights were canceled. Several cruise lines also changed their schedules. The launch of the Europa Clipper spacecraft was delayed.

About six million Floridians were told to evacuate. This was one of the largest evacuation orders since Hurricane Irma in 2017. Most of these orders were in Hillsborough and nearby counties. Uber offered free rides to state shelters.

Zoos like the Florida Aquarium moved animals to higher ground or secure areas. Some workers stayed at the zoos to care for the animals. Animal rescue groups helped move shelter animals to other states.

Sports events were also affected. The Tampa Bay Lightning's hockey game was postponed. University of Central Florida sporting events were canceled. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team moved to New Orleans for their game.

Stores like Publix and Walmart changed their hours or closed. They faced shortages of bottled water and canned goods. Gas stations also ran out of fuel in many places. Governor DeSantis said fuel was being sent to gas stations. He urged people to evacuate "tens of miles" instead of "hundreds of miles." Thirty-three Waffle House locations in Milton's path closed. This is a sign of a very serious storm.

President Joe Biden postponed a trip to oversee storm preparations. He urged people to evacuate, saying it was "a matter of life and death."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had fewer staff available than usual. However, the Homeland Security Secretary said the agency was ready to respond.

Sadly, there were accidents during the evacuation. One person died in a car crash in Marion County. Three people were hurt when their plane crashed into Tampa Bay. Two more people died in a car accident while evacuating on SR 82.

Georgia's Preparations

Coastal Georgia was put under a tropical storm warning.

On October 7, 2024, Atlanta Motor Speedway opened its campground for people evacuating from Florida. They offered free showers. On October 8, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 40 counties. He ordered state agencies to prepare. He also called up to 250 Georgia National Guard troops to help. Cumberland Island National Seashore closed indefinitely.

The Bahamas Prepares

A tropical storm watch was issued for the Extreme Northwest Bahamian Islands on October 8, 2024. It was later upgraded to a tropical storm warning. Grand Bahama activated its emergency center. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force got supplies ready. Schools on Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco, and Grand Cay were closed. Bahamasair made special flights for Bahamian students in Florida to evacuate. Banks and power offices also closed. People bought a lot of hurricane supplies.

Hurricane Milton's Impact

Hurricane Milton caused damage and problems in Mexico, Cuba, and the United States.

Impact in Mexico

Heavy rain from Milton caused flooding in Campeche. Strong storm surge and heavy rain hit the state of Yucatán. The seawall at Progreso was covered by high waves. Over 12,000 people in the state lost power. Flooding from the storm surge led to evacuations in Celestún. Strong waves covered parts of a highway. Heavy winds caused an old house in Progreso to fall down.

The towns of Sisal and Celestún were hit the hardest. They had flooding, fallen trees, and power outages. In Sisal, some roofs and palapas collapsed. Over a thousand people from other towns had to go to shelters. Strong winds and waves destroyed the dock at the port of Chelem. Cancún International Airport canceled many flights.

Impact in Cuba

As Milton got closer to Cuba, its rainbands caused flooding in Surgidero de Batabanó. In Havana Bay, bad weather from Milton stopped ferry services. The Cuban Weather Service reported that Western Cuba had winds of 25–30 mph (40–48 km/h). Gusts reached 50 mph (80 km/h) in Casablanca, Havana.

Impact in the United States

Florida's Damage

A filled dry detention basin during Hurricane Milton

A tornado in Fort Pierce, Florida

On October 9, at least 19 tornadoes touched down in Florida before Milton hit land. These tornadoes happened in the Florida Heartland, Treasure Coast, and Space Coast areas. After Milton made landfall, 38 tornadoes were reported. At least two tornadoes crossed I-75. Another tornado caused a lot of damage in North Fort Myers. A tornado in Cocoa Beach ripped off a bank's roof.

The National Weather Service office in Miami issued 55 tornado warnings in one day. This was a new record for them. The NWS in Tampa Bay also set a record with 29 tornado warnings. At least six people died in St. Lucie County due to two tornadoes. A large tornado near Fort Pierce damaged dozens of homes. In total, a record 126 tornado warnings were issued across Florida.

A sinkhole opened up in Hillsborough County. Another sinkhole caused part of U.S. Route 17/92 to collapse in Orange City.

Ten people were injured in Wellington. Two people died in St. Petersburg. One person died in Ormond Beach when a tree fell on a roof. A woman in her 70s died in Hillsborough County. In total, 16 people died in Florida because of Milton.

Tropicana Field lost a large part of its roof. The Tampa Bay Times building was badly damaged when a construction crane fell on it.

Winds reached 75 mph (121 km/h) in Marineland. Gusts reached 107 mph (172 km/h) in Sarasota. Heavy rain also fell, with over 13 in (330 mm) in Plant City.

About 125 homes were destroyed before Milton hit land. More than 3 million homes and buildings lost power. Nearly 1,000 people and 105 animals were rescued.

Many areas had serious flooding, including parts of Orlando and Saint Johns. In Astor, the Saint John’s River was expected to flood near record levels. 500 people were rescued from one apartment building in Clearwater due to deep floodwaters. Hillsborough County reported severe damage.

See also

In Spanish: Huracán Milton para niños

• Weather of 2024
• Tropical cyclones in 2024
• Timeline of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
• List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes