Latest news with #HurricaneMilton
CBS News
a day ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Hurricane forecast cones don't show the full picture. Why inland threats can be devastating.
As Hurricane Milton demonstrated, a storm's impacts can stretch far beyond its center or the forecast cone. That's why meteorologists urge residents to pay attention to more than just the projected track — especially as the hurricane season grows more intense. What the hurricane forecast cone shows and what it doesn't When a hurricane is out over the ocean, meteorologists primarily focus on the forecast cone, which maps out where the center of the storm is expected to track over the next five days. It's a critical tool for anticipating landfall zones, but experts say it doesn't capture the full scope of a storm's reach. Once a hurricane approaches land, forecasters begin to shift attention from just the cone to the broader impacts on the surrounding region. That's because damaging effects, like heavy rain, tornadoes and power outages, can occur well outside the cone. Hurricane Milton: A cautionary example Hurricane Milton, which churned through the Gulf in early October 2024, serves as a stark reminder of the risks beyond the cone. While its forecast track pointed toward the Gulf Coast, South Florida experienced a rash of tornadoes that developed in the storm's outer rainbands — a full day before the hurricane made landfall. "These storms developed a good distance from the forecast cone," the NEXT Weather team reported, highlighting how far-reaching tropical systems can be. Rain bands tied to hurricanes can spawn severe weather events, including tornadoes and strong winds, many miles from the storm's center. Such events can knock out power for days, sometimes even weeks, regardless of whether the core of the storm comes close. "Increasingly we are seeing these outages for days and weeks," said Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center. "A lot of people struggle to understand they can lose power for that long and what they would do." Inland flooding poses another hidden risk Another underappreciated hazard is inland flooding, which can be triggered by bands of tropical rain repeatedly moving over the same area. While most public attention focuses on storm surge, flash flooding from heavy inland rain can block roads, damage homes, and trap residents for days. "If you stocked up and did your due diligence… you can confidently stay in your home for 1-2 days as those flood waters subside and not put yourself in danger in those conditions," Rhome said. Having enough food, water, and essential supplies for a multi-day stretch can eliminate the need to wade or drive through floodwaters in the aftermath of a storm, conditions that can endanger both you and first responders. A new hurricane forecast cone is coming In response to these far-reaching hazards, the National Hurricane Center plans to roll out an experimental version of the hurricane forecast cone in 2026. This new format will not only show the storm's projected path but also include inland hazards like wind, flooding, and the potential for tornadoes. The goal: make sure people understand that even if they're far from the forecast track, they're not necessarily safe from harm. As Hurricane Milton showed, the cone is just one piece of the puzzle. To truly stay safe, residents must monitor the entire system's impacts, no matter how far removed they may seem.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Benefit held to help Pasco deputy injured in the line of duty
The Brief Pasco Deputy Buddy Allman was injured while alerting people to rising water during Hurricane Milton. He spent several weeks in the hospital in a medically-induced coma. The type of injury he suffered only allows him to collect 66 percent of his pay. PASCO COUNTY, Fla. - More help could be on the way for law enforcement officers injured in the line of duty across the state. The Deputy Andy Lahera Act, named after critically injured Citrus County Deputy Lahera, would help financially cover law enforcement officers injured in the line of duty. On Saturday, a benefit event for injured Pasco Deputy Buddy Allman was held at the Rotary Concourse Pavillion in Spring Hill. On October 18 last year, Allman was riding in a Humvee to urge people to evacuate as the Withlacoochee River crested from Hurricane Milton. He said, "I was in a Humvee driving up and down the roads. We had a big speaker up on top of it which would project the sound letting people know that the waters were rising." The asphalt under his and his partner collapsed. He explained, "The vehicle went down and, on its side, and I couldn't get my door open because of the way that the vehicle lodged itself in there." Roaring floodwater poured inside. "Within seconds it was all the way up to my mouth," he added, "I tried to take one last breath and when I did, I was sucking in some water." Allman's partner safely escaped. While bystanders sprang into action to rescue him. He said, "They gave me a two percent chance of survival when I left out of Dade City in the helicopter." Hurricane Season 2025 hurricane season guide: Here's how to prepare For the next 3.5 weeks, Allman was in a medically induced coma. He said, "It was touch and go at the hospital for three weeks because I was on the highest level on the machines that they would take there in order to save my life." On November 27, he was released from the hospital. But to this day, he's coping with a host of issues. "I've got torn rotator cuffs on both sides, I've got a traumatic brain injury from losing oxygen that won't get any better," he said, "I've got neuropathy from my knee to my hips on both legs." All proceeds from the event on Saturday were donated to the family. But they say with more surgeries to come, they're concerned about bills. He said, "In Florida, if you get hurt in the line of duty, and you were not chasing a fleeing felon, or you weren't shot, you only get 66 percent of your pay." Right now, full coverage eligibility only extends to law enforcement officers injured in "fresh pursuits, an emergency, or an unlawful act committed by another." The Deputy Andy Lahera Act would expand employer-paid health insurance to cover law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers who are injured during an official training exercise or in the line of duty. The act currently sits at Governor Ron DeSantis' desk awaiting to be signed into law. The Source FOX 13's Jennifer Kveglis gathered the information for this story. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
How Far Can We Degrade Our Hurricane Forecasting Before People End Up Dead?
As darkness descended on the Gulf of Mexico in October, a 1970s-era U.S. government turboprop plane neared the eye of the newly formed Hurricane Milton. When the plane's first radar scan arrived by satellite communications, I pounced and took to the airwaves, describing to viewers what I saw inside the storm: a dreaded vortex alignment signaling the early stages of rapid intensification. On social media I put it more plainly: 'Katy bar the door, this one's about to put on a show.' And Milton did just that, strengthening at a breathtaking rate over the next 24 hours to a 180-mile-per-hour Category 5 monster, the strongest Gulf hurricane in almost 20 years. But there was no October surprise on the Florida coast because we'd had ample warning from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's hurricane hunters — enough time for people in the highest-risk areas to safely evacuate and businesses to prepare for the worst. But as we head into what NOAA forecasts will be another active Atlantic hurricane season, the Trump administration and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency are downsizing the agency, which houses the National Weather Service, the hurricane hunters and many other programs crucial to hurricane forecasters. Without the arsenal of tools from NOAA and its 6.3 billion observations sourced each day, the routinely detected hurricanes of today could become the deadly surprise hurricanes of tomorrow. The National Weather Service costs the average American $4 per year in today's inflated dollars — about the same as a gallon of milk — and offers an 8,000 percent annual return on investment, according to 2024 estimates. It's a farce for the administration to pretend that gutting an agency that protects our coastlines from a rising tide of disasters is in the best interests of our economy or national security. If the private sector could have done it better and cheaper, it would have, and it hasn't. Losing the hurricane hunters would be catastrophic, but that would be only the forerunner wave in a brutal, DOGE-directed tsunami to weather forecasting. In just three months DOGE has dealt the National Weather Service, which operates 122 local forecast offices around the country, the equivalent of over a decade of loss to its work force. Some offices have hemorrhaged 60 percent of their staff members, including entire management teams. National Weather Service forecast offices — typically staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year — are the source of all weather warnings received by Americans by phone, TV and radio. Without these warnings and data, local weather broadcasts and private weather apps couldn't operate. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Inland flooding: The growing hurricane threat far from the coast
WFLA's 'Surviving the Storm' Hurricane special is airing on May 31 at 7 p.m. You can watch it at 7 p.m. on air on WFLA News Channel 8 or through the TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — When most people think of hurricanes, the mind jumps to wind speeds, storm surge, or the category of the storm. But for many Floridians in 2024, the greatest threat came after the storm made landfall—inland flooding. Year of the surge: How a storm 100 miles away changed Tampa Bay forever This past hurricane season brought high water to neighborhoods that had never seen flooding before. And experts say it wasn't just a fluke. It's a warning. In Lakeland's Lake Bonny neighborhood, Jan Morsey still remembers the terrifying hours after Hurricane Milton passed overhead. 'The water was so high it had already inundated our cars… we had electrical wires down that were blocking our driveway, so we had no way of escaping,' she said. 'It was a frantic, very frightening situation.' Jan and her family had to be rescued by a passing truck, grabbing only what they could carry. 'Our little dogs were in their carriers, and that was it for us. It was unbelievable how quickly that water came in.' And the water didn't leave quickly. Days turned into weeks. The water lingered. It wasn't just Florida. In North Carolina, Hurricane Helene brought similar devastation to the mountains. Entire towns in Asheville were washed away, roads collapsed, and beloved landmarks were lost. The storm claimed more than 200 lives across the Southeast, the vast majority due to flooding. 'It will test the fortitude of anyone,' said Florida resident Michael Chad Smith. 'But it could have been worse. Look at North Carolina.' Experts point to several factors: Urban development in once-rural areas can overwhelm outdated drainage systems. Stormwater infrastructure—including dams, canals, and retention ponds—can't always keep up with population growth. Climate data shows hurricanes are producing more rainfall than ever before. Slow-moving systems can dump torrential rain far from the storm's center. 'If there is a body of water and the drainage hasn't kept up, my story can be your story,' said Morsey. The most frightening aspect of inland flooding? How fast it can happen. 'Fifteen minutes. That's all it took,' said Smith. 'Hurricane rain is different. It's a lot of water, very quickly.' A street full of puddles can turn into a river in moments—especially when the ground is already saturated. The National Hurricane Center has responded by: Launching a public awareness campaign about inland flood dangers Expanding watches and warnings to cover inland areas Debuting a flood forecast tool to better anticipate rainfall totals Issuing new rainfall outlooks tied to tropical systems The message is clear: You don't have to live on the coast to be at risk. Michael Chad Smith puts it bluntly: 'What you think can't happen, will happen in a crisis-type situation. Prepare for the worst.' The residents of Lake Bonny never thought their neighborhood would flood. But in 2024, they joined a growing list of inland communities learning just how quickly things can change. And with storms becoming wetter and more widespread, that list is likely to grow. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Tornadoes from Hurricane Milton have left lasting scars on Fort Pierce community
While Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida's west coast in October 2024, it was the tornadoes on the east coast that delivered the most tragic blow, particularly in Fort Pierce, where an EF3 tornado claimed six lives and left a neighborhood in ruins. A Gulf coast storm with Florida east coast devastation Though Milton's eye hit the Gulf side, the storm system spawned at least 45 tornadoes across Central and Southern Florida, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The most destructive struck Spanish Lakes Country Club Village in Fort Pierce, turning a retirement community into a disaster zone. "It sounded like a plane that fell out of the sky," said Jackie Scott, who rode out the tornado in a small space with her dog and two cats. "I didn't even realize that part of the roof was gone." Scott's home was later reduced to debris. Though she survived without injury and received FEMA assistance within weeks, she now lives in a new mobile home in another part of Fort Pierce. Her original lot remains vacant. Rebuilding and financial strain after Hurricane Milton Scott is one of the few who feel lucky. Others, like Jeanna McKamey, are still in a prolonged struggle with bureaucracy and financial burdens. "Everything had flown away, just was ripped into pieces," McKamey recalled. Her attempts to rebuild have been slowed by FEMA paperwork, county permitting issues, and mounting costs. "We were looking at $20,000 to $40,000 just to put a carport and porch back on," she said. The financial toll means she and her husband have shelved retirement indefinitely. Mobile home insurance, too, has become nearly unattainable. "It was like over $4,000," Scott said of her quote while shopping for coverage for her new home. Psychological toll and a changed landscape in Fort Pierce Michael Bass, whose concrete home withstood the storm, has decided to move out of the neighborhood. He said the trauma is now built into the view. "I got feedback from the open houses that, you know, 'I don't want to live in your devastation.' That's when it dawned on me," Bass said. Months after the tornado, the debris is gone — but so are many homes. Entire blocks remain as empty lots, haunting reminders of what was lost. A warning as 2025 hurricane season begins As a new hurricane season gets underway, Fort Pierce residents like Jackie Scott are urging others to take preparedness seriously. "If it's going to be bad, leave," she said. "I stayed because I had no choice, and I would've stayed anyways, because I was that stubborn." For many in Fort Pierce, recovery is ongoing — not just of homes and property, but of peace of mind. What began as a hurricane turned into a life-altering event, one that still feels surreal for those who lived through it.
