Hurricane Milton strengthens into dangerous Category 4

Wow. This storm has really intensified rapidly - I know the same could be said for Hurricane Helene. A day or so ago Milton was barely a category 1.

yeah, in around 24 hours. that's nearly unprecedented

Mar a Lago? You in danger, girl.

Oh the humanity - all those trailer parks!

r3, likely not, but the west coast is in trouble

Weird to see these flash formations of major storms in the Gulf of Mexico.

crazy

The term “rapid intensification” used to describe an extreme and unusual event, with these Aug-Sept-Oct hurricanes in the Gulf.

Now… it’s just what they do.

The pros are saying wind shear late tomorrow /Wed might reduce Milton back to a Cat 3 at landfall. But that’s still big, and if it’s grown in size then the surge will still be massive.

Thanks to climate change, these are more frequent events.

Headed for the state where denial of climate change is baked into the lawmaking process.

The NOAA track predicts it will cross Florida to its east coast so there’s still a chance it will hit Mar a Lardo and then it heads out into the Atlantic, aiming directly for Bermuda.

Category 5 now!

I think it could take a sharp turn up to Mar a Lago. It looks massive.

Tampa-St Pete and maybe Orlando, inland (not sure) are in very serious danger. Millions are in the path. This is the problem with Florida and global warming, these massive storms just keep getting bigger and more dangerous at the same time that central Florida has been completely developed. Millions more people live there now than did 30 or 40 years ago.

R12 Mar a Lago is to the south of the path

Berle?

Category V(5)!

It may temporarily strengthen to be the strongest recorded storm in history, but looks like it will significantly weaken by the time it makes landfall in Florida. The Yucatan appears to be fucked, though.

ron desantis will obstruct federal aid and condemn many more thousands to death for political points

Idiot DeSantis passed a law saying no one in government could mention the words "climate change." Now if he had passed a law saying nobody in FL can say the word "hurricane:" all their weather problems would just go away.

3rd strongest hurricane in the Atlantic EVER.

[quote]3rd strongest hurricane in the Atlantic EVER.

That's quite a feat for a storm roiling in the Gulf of Mexico! Wow!!!

Destroy Mar-a-Lago!!!!

I can’t decided if r21 needs to turn in his geography card or not.

R20 it isn’t in the Atlantic.

What the hell do you think the Gulf of Mexico is!? It’s a basin in the Atlantic Ocean!

I'm still astounded that it's a CAT 5 and heading directly, bullseye, for Tampa Bay. If you wanted the worst, that's the scenario you would draw up.

The experts predict it will widen and expand into a much larger CAT 3 by landfall on Wednesday night. That's less catastrophic for those directly in the "bullseye" but a CAT 3 is still powerful... and a wider storm means a larger storm surge. Current prediction is that Tampa Bay experiences a surge of 10 to 15 feet. The surge for Helene was 7-8 feet and that was bad enough.

It’s called the Atlantic hurricane season, not the Gulf of Mexico hurricane season, dumb dumbs. That is what the record refers to.

FWIW, R27 is correct in that the National Hurricane Center simply divides all storms and advisories/warnings broadly into Atlantic and Pacific. Yes the Gulf of Mexico is its own thing, yes, we know. But also yes, meteorologically -- in hurricane discussions -- Gulf storms get grouped into "Atlantic" storms.

It's getting ugly people !

Hope it piles into Florida as a Cat 5. Devastation galore.

The other storms in the area are probably feeding it, wonder if it will be substantially taken down in intensity once it hits land, or if another system will continue to feed it, or if it wavers on/off the coast, it's shaping up to be something interesting.

Unfortunately 'Lago, is built for hurricane endurance with 3' thick walls (the Post cereal heiress who'd owned it before ensured it's a fortress).

That looks like a big scary SKULL crawling up America!!!

Milton is badass.

It's up to a Categotry 5

They say it could reach Cat 6 but won't call it that since it doesn't currently exist. Time for the weather people to rethink their charts.

Tampa - get out now, don't wait until Wednesday.

180mph winds currently

I had a friend that just got glanced by Helene and is now evacuating for Milton.

She’s scared, but said there was no one on the highway when they were driving north on I75 earlier today.

Don’t wait! Get out now!

Floridians are generally fucked

Holy crap, R37!

Bye bye, Floriduh!

NBC local Florida meterologist John Morales got emotional describing Milton:

Rio de la Plata

Florida, Corrientes, Nueve de Julio

All I want to know!

The shallow water table in Florida means they’ll have big problems with flooding even in inland areas unaffected by the storm surge.

Once windspeeds reach a mere 40 mph nobody left in Pinellas can evacuate.

Bye bye Snell Island!

This is turning me on.

I watched Kaitlin Collins - I think that's her name, the mannish looking one - anyway she was interviewing the mayor of Tampa, a lovely older lady, telling people if they don't get out of Tampa, THEY WILL DIE.

Anyhow, the showed the northbound lands headed out of Tampa and they were almost at a standstill. I noticed the southbound lanes were all open to a trickle of southbound cars. I'm just north of New Orleans and during Katrina they opened all the lanes to head north (except maybe one the other way). It really bothered me that they hadn't thought of that.

Anyway, get the hell out of there, or as Jane Castor, Mayor, said, "You will die!" (she also said she was pissed at people, meaning Trump, bringing politics into the situation. She said Biden had just called her on her cell phone, FEMA people were offering everything they could, etc.)

*they showed the northbound lanes...

[quote]I'm just north of New Orleans and during Katrina they opened all the lanes to head north (except maybe one the other way). It really bothered me that they hadn't thought of that.

Yes! I asked about this on the other thread.

Is Brandonjoseph clinging to dear life yet during the storm surge!

How do these 60 year old condo buildings in Florida fare in Category 5 hurricanes 🌀 ?

“You’re gonna die!”

R41 MARY!!!

200 millibars is scary

R52 Refreshing to see an elected official not shill out Hopium.

She said:

Evacuate OR you're gonna die.

[quote] Kaitlin Collins - I think that's her name, the mannish looking one

Man Faced Cunt Kaitlan Collins!

[quote] Jane Castor, Mayor, said, "You will die!" (she also said she was pissed at people, meaning Trump, bringing politics into the situation. She said Biden had just called her on her cell phone, FEMA people were offering everything they could, etc.)

Considering she’s a Democrat, it would be odd if she didn’t state those things (not the die thing).

Yeah, but she didn't bring up Trump/politics until Kaitlin expressly asked her about it.

I just love Mayor Jane ; )

I have a very nice, moneyed, and dumb friend who lives about 20 miles north of Tampa who's in a newly built 2-year old house who's told me, when I asked (and I used to live in New Orleans), that she thinks she'll be fine because the storm is small, and she's not in Tampa proper. 'Kay.

I'd be in Toronto.

She will be treading water and saying goodbye cold cruel world. Small storm, just a little rain.

R60 curious, is her house in a storm surge evacuate zone or is she a bit more inland? I know a few inland metro Tampa people (Carrollwood etc) who are staying in their thick concrete apartments.

It's huge on radar. I saw video of a lot of cars leaving Tampa so that's good.

Hearing today from friends that the evacuation west to east coast is pretty good right now, cars are making progress at 20 to 40mph. From east coast they can head south toward Ft Lauderdale etc, out of the path.

But apparently the highways heading north along the west coast are jammed and moving very slowly.

The storm is going to go from the gulf to across Florida and exit on the Atlantic. That doesn't sound good.

R65, fortunately the pros say it will continue east, way out to sea, after it exits Florida.

R64 - go south to Fort Lauderdale? Very bad idea and quite foolish

R62, she's inland and that puts her in a better position than folks on the coast. I'm not saying she SHOULDN'T stay but this storm is going to be bad, and it's going to be bad 50-60 miles at least on either side of the eye. But her incredibly naive, shoulder shrug attitude about it is alarming to me. Our last text from just a bit earlier today: "Yeah, the worst is that we'll probably lose power." Storms from the last five years are much, much stronger than those from the three decades that precede it. Couldn't be me.

Anyone having a hurricane party? If so, you should play monopoly, since it's from Milton Bradley.

Wrong, r69.

Latest forecast from NHC puts the eye landfall somewhere just barely south of Tampa, like Longboat Key/Bradenton/Sarasota. If that happens, it is still bad for Tampa Bay but not nearly as bad as a landfall slightly north of Tampa Bay would be. A lot of us know this already but: Hurricanes rotate counterclockwise. So if you imagine Milton coming east toward landfall and rotating counterclockwise, it's the south side that gets the worst of the incoming surge.

Wow I just heard on the Ryan Hall Y'all live stream that they have finally flipped the southbound lanes into Tampa into northbound lanes. Sorry I don't know the technical way to say that - allowing contraflow traffic - something like that.

Hooray!

But they're having problems with gas stations running out of gas! Yikes.

Is Senior Lesbian evacuating?

More aptly from Milton Bradley...

R73 she evacuated and is safe elsewhere with her dog — now just wishing her home to be spared

[quote] Berle?

No, Rose. Friedman.

[quote] She said: Evacuate OR you're gonna die.

Well, to be fair, we're all gonna die eventually.

The name Milton has skways held BDE for me.

First hurricane after MTG does her "*They* control the weather" schtick is Milton. I know the name list is picked ahead of time, but, Oy Vey!

R79 Right? May as well have been Hurricane Ira.

[Quote] Considering she’s a Democrat, it would be odd if she didn’t state those things

What a stupid attempt to turn it around on her, Defacto. If Trump weren’t using this disaster, actually caused in part by himself,* for political purposes, she would not have said that. You’re such a transparent loser.

Hurricane Moishe!

Just be grateful the storms not names José.

The sensual elite used to host hurricane cocktail 🍹 parties in their high rise apartments back in the 1960s.

And it worked out so well!

[quote]Just be grateful the storms not names José.

No way, José.

What a story at R85.

[quote]when on trial for murdering her 11th husband

[quote] The sensual elite

The whooey whatty?

The track has moved a bit south towards Sarasota.

Tampa does have some tall buildings. Are they going to blow over? Wouldn't people be safe in a steel skyscraper?

[quote] The track has moved a bit south towards Sarasota.

This will save Tampa.

It's back to a Cat 5.

And Tampa is still screwed.

But I’m praying for the Asolo THEATRE in Sarasota. Is it still operating?

It reminds me of a joke setup my AP English teacher used whenever possible.

Student: Who wrote Paradise Lost?

Mr Ketchum: Milton

Student: Milton, who?

Mr Kerxchum: John Milton (smirk)

I don't know Florida geography; can someone tell me if Bradenton will be destroyed? I hope so, my Evangelical MAGA sister in law lives there.

I’ve heard that Camille hurricane party story all my life and I had no idea it was bs, that some of them survived, and the bigger tragedy was Trinity Church where a family of 16 took shelter until it too collapsed and 13 were drowned.

So what’s the latest? From what I heard last, it’s supposed to lose strength before it hits land.

Milton is a grower!

Current sustained winds 165 mph = category 5.

R97 the latest (I’m semi obsessed) is that Milton will weaken in strength but expand in size as it approaches landfall tomorrow night. Storm surge volume doesn’t change, just the peak velocity of wind nearest the eye.

The NHC now thinks Longboat Key/Bradenton is the likely bullseye. That is good because it’s just south of Tampa Bay. If it lands in the Bay or just north of the Bay, that could add another 6ft to an already bad storm surge.

But the exact landfall location could change..

There's a mass exodus going on now, people are being told if they wait until tomorrow they will probably be stuck there.

As Torta said, weakening wind speeds close to landfall doesn't make the storm less dangerous. It means more of the coast will be affected by storm surge and torrential rains. Also, wind damage and the threat of tornadoes affects a larger area.

Florida broke this, so Florida bought it. They send overwhelmingly rightwing pro-Trump people to Congress, deniers who actively FIGHT efforts to address global warming. They have gone out of their way sign onto Trumpism which includes DENYING all climate change, claiming that it’s a “Democrat hoax” and even pumping more and more carbon into the atmosphere. And of course now that climate change is wreaking havoc in red states — the same people who are making it worse! — they are screaming for federal aid, for us to clean up their mess. And Trump is blaming his mess on democrats, because it’s a day that ends in a Y.

15 ft storm surge expected in Tampa, most have left there. It was said if you live in that area in a single story home and decide to stay, that will be your coffin. Good that they're telling it like it is.

Disney World in Orlando is closing at 1:00 PM on Wednesday and to remain closed on Thursday.

With the eye shifting south, r104, the wind direction won’t be on shore anymore so less surge, less flooding.

[Quote] 8PM EDT: This is nothing short of astronomical. I am at a loss for words to meteorologically describe you the storms small eye and intensity. 897mb pressure with 180 MPH max sustained winds and gusts 200+ MPH. This is now the 4th strongest hurricane ever recorded by pressure…

Noah Bergren, Weatherman

NHC has updated their storm surge inundation map.. they now think the eye will hit Siesta Key and Sarasota, so everything coastal from there on down thru Fort Myers gets the worst of it. Tampa Bay now more like an 8-10ft surge which is bad but not as catastrophic as 15 ft. You can see on the map, zooming in… Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda are now showing a worse surge than Tampa Bay.

Are they evacuating the hospitals in 🌀Tampa?

Lord, I really feel for everybody that lives there. People fleeing for their lives might come home to nothing. The ones who try to ride it out🙏.

R103 what a pathetically stupid generalization as if every person in Florida is of the same mind. There are people here in Florida for a variety of reasons and who are Democrats and dislike the governor.

Meanwhile r111 the state sends overwhelmingly rightwing people to congress.

You’re like that guy who knows a trump supporter who’s “a very nice person.”

Florida is what it does, and what it does is elect rightwing climate deniers.

R109:

r112 is also:

*Fuck North Carolina*

[quote]I see people raising money for the Appalachian people in western North Carolina, and I’m sorry but, fuck them. Let them suffer.

[quote]I know that sounds harsh, but I don’t think they should suffer because they’re rightwing republicans.

[quote]I think they should suffer because they are climate denialists who have worked hard to STOP any effort to address global warming.

[quote]When Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreemrnt, their congressional representative, Madison Cawthorn, applauded the decision.

[quote]Rightwingers in Congress have foiled efforts to curb emissions. So when the people who put them in Congress are hit by global-warming-caused freak weather, seems like karma to me.

[quote]This hurricane is nearing the mathematical limit of what Earth's atmosphere over this ocean water can produce.

Sorry -- I'm just a lowly social scientist. WTF does that actually mean?

That clouds have reached their saturation point absorbing humidity from the ocean at its current temperature? If so, would this slow the hurricane down?

Pretty much

The tsunamis of the Atlantic.

Apparently it reached category 5 again, but will most likely make landfall as a category 3 (maybe 4, or 2??). I hope people don't think a downgrade by landfall means they shouldn't leave.

That's an amazing photo at R107!

[quote] Disney World in Orlando is closing at 1:00 PM on Wednesday and to remain closed on Thursday.

I'd like to speak to the manager!!

My husband and I dragged little Katelynn and Colton down here to see Disney World, and dammit we're going to see it.

Now OPEN THOSE GATES!!!!!!

[bold]Hurricane Milton strengthens to Category 5 as it approaches Florida[/bold]

TAMPA, Fla. − Hurricane Milton regained Category 5 strength Tuesday as it barreled across the Gulf of Mexico toward the Florida Peninsula, where millions scrambled to wrap up storm preparations and evacuate vulnerable areas.

The National Hurricane Center said the Milton's storm surge presents an "extremely life-threatening situation" for the western coast of Florida, adding that damaging winds and torrential rainfall will extend well inland and outside the forecast cone. Hurricane warning maps show Florida blanketed in red and orange alerts.

Milton had undergone stunningly rapid intensification Monday, its sustained winds reaching 180 mph. By Tuesday morning, the wind speed dropped dramatically before climbing to 160 mph Tuesday evening.

While the storm is expected to weaken before it makes landfall Wednesday night, “Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida," John Cangialosi, a specialist with the National Hurricane Center, warned in an update Tuesday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis told state residents in the path of Milton that "time is running out" before landfall, likely as a Category 3 storm. The National Weather Service in Tampa warned Tuesday that if Milton stays on course, it would be “the most powerful hurricane to hit Tampa Bay in over 100 years.”

More than 1 million people were under evacuation orders in at least 16 counties, and both numbers were expected to climb as Milton draws closer to a coastline still recovering from Hurricane Helene's strike less than two weeks ago. More than 20 million of Florida’s 22 million residents are under either hurricane or tropical storm warning.

In St. Petersburg, Julie Bost fled for safety. Bost, 32, was a new mom with a 3-month-old baby when her home was flooded by Hurricane Idalia last year, causing $65,000 in damage. “I couldn’t go through another flood,” Bost told the USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida. “I told my husband I couldn’t handle that again emotionally.”

Why isn't anyone talking about the huge storm being pushed ahead of Milton? It appears similar in size, but not organized. It's going to rain over the same track, so the ground will be saturated when the main show comes through a few hours later.

DeSatan is stockpiling hundreds of pairs of white rubber go-go boots.

But whatever happens in the hours and days to come - don't say gay!

Once again there's a missing comment at r124, but I don't have anyone on ignore.

R124, that's also happened to me occasionally. Go into settings and set "Flames & Freaks" to Asbestos Eyeballs and it will probably appear. For some reason (that I've never figured out) mine sometimes resets from Asbestos Eyeballs to the default middle setting.

Er, I meant R125, sorry.

I heard that nice Tampa mayor saying true things - such as "get out" - and optimistic things - "We are strong blah blah Tampa will build back better than ever." I appreciate that's the correct message at time of crisis.

But why the USA doesn't have a plan to deal with climate change and rising sea levels through engineering? Shouldn't there be bans on construction that is guaranteed to flood? Shouldn't al new development on that peninsula have steel post foundations and first levels that start 20 feet above current sea level?

Some of these fools look at the animated TV images of the hurricane and conceptually think "tornado" which is more narrowly defined. The path of a hurricane is much different. Even the outer bands are dangerous, and a lot of these lunatics who are "preparing" are clueless when it comes to what the physical experience is going to be.

[quote]But why the USA doesn't have a plan to deal with climate change and rising sea levels through engineering?

Because one of the USA's political parties denies climate change and tries to block any attempt to deal with it.

Isn't Florida also notoriously lax on regulation (like Texas) when it comes to construction and other capitalistic enterprises, despite regulating women's healthcare choices and agency over their own bodies?

Republican = "Small Government" = We will control YOU.

How do these middle class people have the money and willpower and denial to buy these homes at sea level, fill them with crap, watch it flood, leave it all on the street to be collected, redo what remains of their houses, and then rinse, repeat. Again and again?

Milton is hung, and uncut, and is going to Fuck Florida for 12 hours straight. No pity.

Damn r134, that’s an excellent analogy. It looks like a giant dick.

Why can't Uncle Milty come up to New England!??

Damn, THAT my friends, is a DONG!

[quote] But why the USA doesn't have a plan to deal with climate change and rising sea levels through engineering? Shouldn't there be bans on construction that is guaranteed to flood? Shouldn't al new development on that peninsula have steel post foundations and first levels that start 20 feet above current sea level?

I agree that there should be changes to deal with flood waters in Florida. Plenty of videos have shown that the concrete block construction of the buildings was fine. The problem was the water that got in through the openings. I saw a few videos in which homeowners had figured out on their own how to put up a water resistant or waterproof barrier around their doors and windows. It kept the inside dry even though the water had been several feet high on their outer walls.

It’s going to hit as a category 4.

oh come on now, after all this build up? It better at least be a Category 5

It seems like it's moving more south now. So like Miami thought they were relatively safe- ish, and now not so much?

The Republican members of Congress from Florida, voted against FEMA Funding two months ago. Now everyone is spreading lies about FEMA. But FEMA will give people money to cover losses. So the assholes who get flooded out, and they furniture and other stuff is ruined, including their houses, can apply for FEMA funds. And of course they're being told FEMA is evil. Russia is flooding us with disinformation.

I have an idea that could change lives a prevent more unfortunate victims.

Could we send Cheryl to Tampa? Just stick her right in the storm's path, have her open her haunches, and just let her endless gaping and festering hole of womyn-hood just suck up all of that vicious water and wind- keeping our Tampa brothers and sisters safe?

And if anything can clean her out! Its Milty!

I suspect this storm will be a big nothing- and I don't want anyone to die- so that is good.

R140 Miami is still safe, just some minor flooding from rain. The storm is still expected to go across east-northeast and exit between Melbourne and Vero Beach.

But yeah tonight it will land about 20-30 miles more south than they expected a couple days ago when it looked like Tampa Bay in the bullseye. Sarasota or just south of it, is the current landfall prediction.

I hope Milton FLATTENS Florida!!

Florida's pretty flat without Milton -- thanks anyway.

I hope Milton turns Florida into a wasteland!

Oh wait, you already are a wasteland.

These live cams are fascinating. Everything is calm and balmy until things get to scootin.

R144, we Floridian humans can only just reciprocally wish the worst personal tragedies come to you and your loved ones very soon. Though doubtful you have any loved ones.

R142, you suspect this storm will be a big nothing? You’re totally delusional. Milton will be catastrophic and all of you out there trying to downplay it can fuck off.

An hour ago the roads were dry and the Ft. Myers camera was still, now you can see and hear the wind pushing it around. Four cameras, Tampa, Ft. Myers, Key West and Sarasota.

R148 say hi to Rhonda on your floatie

R149- I did not mean to offend-- I think (and HOPE) it will not be as catastrophic as you are saying..

Who else feels bad for the fox news-addicted retirees about to lose their homes?

What you politically-addled dopes cheering for destruction fail to grasp is the storm is hitting the primarily blue counties of Florida. This could easily rob Florida of the votes need to oust Rick Scott or even flip the state in the Presidential. Margins are that tight, and people won't be voting if they're just trying to pick up the pieces.

Yes that’s right r114 and for exactly the same reason. You red staters should get zero federal funds for relief against disasters you’re making worse.

Oh please R154. I hope Milton kicks the Villages square in the cunt!

Can anyone afford home insurance any more in Florida, if you're not a millionaire?

R157 Orange county Orlando is blue as is Tampa metro.. East beach where I live is Trumplandia. Although I did see a truck flying a Harris/Walz flag in Pubelix parking lot yesterday. Could have knocked me over with a feather.

[quote]You red staters should get zero federal funds for relief against disasters you’re making worse.

I'm in a *very* blue state, r155. Were you home-schooled?

I don’t need to have been classroom schooled to know that we reap what we sow. Or we SHOULD.

Is that really your response? You sound like one of those rightwing trolls on social who says “I’m Native American!!!” as if that shuts down the convo.

Keep trolling, r160.

I was in Hurricane Andrew and when the real winds hit, it literally sounded like a freight train. Loud, rumbling, and scary. We were staying at a condo in a resort that people were being evacuated to. So we were on the outskirts of it, but man, all of a sudden the power went out, there was this loud whining sound and they the loudness of the winds.

Can’t remember if this link was posted here or the other thread, rotating live cams.

I loathe people who cheer on natural disasters based on politics. Even the reddest state has blue voters and vice versa. Plus I’m sure the children and pets that suffer have no political affiliation.

20-30 miles is a big difference - obviously for the center, but also for where each band outward lands. I hope this area south of Tampa is ready. I think no matter, there will a lot of property damage, obviously. I hope we can avoid a lot of lives lost. Could it turn again before landfall?

[quote]pets that suffer have no political affiliation

Ya wanna bet?

[quote]Could it turn again before landfall?

Let me get out my Sharpie!

Forget if I posted this already, but, Weather.com has the "spaghetti models" still showing uncertainty about whether Tampa Bay or Sarasota will get the eye. Seems like we won't know until tonight.

The idiot Trumper son of a friend has decided he’s riding it out in Sarasota. His house is only one floor. Let’s see how he’ll blame Kamala when his house is wiped out. Oh, but wait. He said it’s worth it to “live in paradise.”

[quote] The idiot Trumper son of a friend has decided he’s riding it out in Sarasota.

Between you and him, whoever is more obsessed with politics is the one I would like to see wiped out. Right now, that seems like you.

It's sad that the loveliest part of Florida is going to get slammed. Siesta Key, Sarasota. I love that area of the state.

The barrier islands is what pisses me off. The state (lol) government should ban all new construction, do everything they can to discourage people from living there. Same with the ones on the east US coast.

The rain and wind will start before the eye hits. If people are going to evacuate they have to go now if they haven't already. Milton, being the bitch that he is, well be problematic even before he goes into his full, rage-out fury. We all know a Milton.

Florida's insurance issues are about to get worse.

R170, but I live in PA so that ain’t happening. 🤣🤣🤣

Btw, the Trumper specifically moved to “paradise” to get away from the libs. It was his sole reason, and he’s said it many times.

This should work out quite nicely for him, R176.

I hope he gets impaled by one of the pieces of debris left over by Helene. On CNN Boris Sanchez showed up but one example of a sharo piece if wood which would slice up someone’s cranium quite nicely.

My Trumper brother lives in Venice, FL and is not insured. He says very few residents are.

I don’t care, do you?

Uninsured by necessity - they can't afford it or it's not available. Or by choice - they can afford to self-insure.

Orlando is very blue. TONS of gay guys, and straight people who couldn't give a fuck if a guy is gay. It's a liberal oasis in a red state.

[quote]Btw, the Trumper specifically moved to “paradise” to get away from the libs. It was his sole reason, and he’s said it many times.

And once the storm passes, he'll be the first in line for recovery aid, which sounds a lot like the "socialism" that the right rails against. "Pull yourself up by the bootstraps" goes out the window when you're hot and hungry with no electricity in a damaged house.

MAGAs are fine with "socialism" as long as it directly benefits them. When "socialism" helps one single person they don't like is when they lose their minds.

Currently 18 active tornado warnings, many PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) level. They're in the Central and Southern Florida areas. Extraordinary.

I saw a few photos of tornadoes there and they're not little.

They’ll be yelling: “Hell, I’ve paid more than $15,000 in non-social security [italic]Federal [/italic] Income taxes (Florida doesn’t have an income tax). So I’m ‘entitled’ to $300,000 in disaster relief for my uninsured property !”

It's mindboggling, R184. I've been watching/listening to this YouTube channel (highly recommend).

Wow, new tornado warning for Palm Beach County. Mar-a-lago Let's Go!

They're now saying that wherever you happen to be now, is where you're staying until Friday (or who knows when). Bridges and major highways are now closed off for everyone but emergency responders (who will not be getting to you until it's safe for them to do so). Everyone who decided to "ride it out" is officially on their own.

Whether Channel tracker for Tampa - which at this point only goes until 8 pm - makes it look like rain starts to clear out or lighten slightly at that time, but that's just rain in FRONT of the main part of the hurricane?

[quote]Everyone who decided to "ride it out" is officially on their own.

That sounds so...ominous.

Right now there are 12 tornado warnings! Yikes!

Next to being on fire, I would have to bet death by hurricane has GOT to be one of the worst ways to go. Imagine getting slammed in the head by a refrigerator while holding on to a tree.

Maybe it should have been obvious, but I guess hurricanes commonly have tornadoes "in their pocket." My friend from South Carolina was talking about it this morning. It's not uncommon.

Milton - Revenge of the Nerd Name

Milton's winds stretch out 250 miles.

R190 Landfall isn't expected until about 1:00 AM Thursday. But hurricanes are unpredictable so just stay tuned.

Radar-indicated tornado now in Palm Beach. Let's GO!

R124, also, DON’T say CLIMATE CHANGE

R199 It’s not ok to say “gay” or “climate change,” but it IS ok to blame the hurricane on scheming. weather-controlling Jews.

There's already a lot of power outages. Well, "a lot" in terms of individual reporting of residential outages, not sure if it's a lot in terms of percentage of the population in Milton's path.

This pier in Naples FL usually has a nice beach, it's totally gone now (temporarily hopefully until water recedes), not sure if pier will make it.

The site has links to other FL cams.

R197 didn't they update the touchdown time to 8pm?

I've been watching the channel R187 linked. The meteorologist is becoming distraught as he reports on the tornados in the eastern part of the state, which are barreling through highly populated areas right now.

My brother used to live on the western edge of Loxahatchee Groves in Palm Beach county (he left Florida several years ago). A tornado went through his old neighborhood about 25-30 minutes ago.

President Biden is giving a Hurricane Milton address.

It’s already down to a 3. Boring.

Joe is talking about Trump's lies! Go get him.

Someone posted this live cam earlier and I've had it in a tab all day while I work. Nothing extreme has happened - no crazy debris flying around. But, the water has just steadily crept up. You see the in-ground ladder. Not that long ago there was a blue pool visible. Hardly surprising that a pool that close to the beach got inundated, but still - it's sort of slow disaster creep.

^^Sorry, as soon as I posted that, the feed went to a different camera. It bounces around between a couple cameras.

President "No More Nice Guy Fucks to Give" Biden.

Go Mighty Joe!

CNN has Boris Sanchez in Florida. I am going to register a very stern complaint because I do not appreciate them putting DearBoris in danger!!!!!!!

This guy's live updates are good, he's been live for 8 hours now.

Damn!

This is heartbreaking.

Six pm looks like the middle of the night.

damn, looks like midnight

Max Velocity live, the link above was his stream before taking a break after 8 hours. Lots of tornado updates too.

Birds?

Birds are flying in the hurricane? Did I hear that correctly?

This is what naples pier at r202 usually looks like.

Birdicane is the natural successor to Sharknado.

Where could seabirds even attempt to shelter during a hurricane?

In the eye. In the eye, r221.

If you don't shaddup I'm going to knock you on your FAT CAN.

parking garages?

[quote] Whether Channel tracker for Tampa

Oh my fucking DEAR, R190!!!

I hope the hurricane rips the shirt off of Boris Sanchez, right in the middle of his reporting!

That is what the NBC reporters are doing, R224. They stay in the upper floors and to the center of the garage.

Do any DLEGs remember a whiny comedian from the 60s named Milton or maybe Norman?

Norm Crosby?

Milton Jones?

Milton sped up! At sunrise this morning they thought landfall would be 2am. It was more like 8:30pm.

At this rate, for the West Coast the worst of it should be over by midnight.

No, not those guys, but thanks for answering. This guy's routine played on being a whiny nerd. I would have seen him on something like the Ed Sullivan Show or some other variety show. It's a thin memory, so it's hard to search online.

Daddy?

Hurricanes occurring at night are the worst.

[quote]Hurricanes occurring at night are the worst.

I think that would be true of any natural disaster.

Is Florida still breathing?

R232 Milton Berle? I think he was still around in the 60s. Had the biggest dick in Hollywood, so they said.

One of these guys R228?

Sounds like it's "better" than expected in terms of Category and thus wind, but there's still heavy, destructive wind and lots of rain and flash flooding. And a lot more rain and the worst storm surge on the back end.

No luck, thanks, r238. His name might have been Myron, but not the Myron Cohen listed on the Ed Sullivan page. I'll keep ruminating and ask my brother.

[quote] Do any DLEGs remember a whiny comedian from the 60s named Milton or maybe Norman?

Milton the Monster.

Has Florida been destroyed yet?

*crossing fingers*

Is Florida cut or uncut?

[quote]Birds are flying in the hurricane? Did I hear that correctly?

I thought birds could sense the hurricane coming and therefore left the area. The ibis is supposed to be the last one to leave town, which is why he's the U of Miami's mascot.

Florida man goes out into hurricane and goes through some things.

R246 that’s an older video, not sure which storm.. but yes, peak Florida Man.

Thanks, R247, I hate getting taken in by misrepresentations.

I was hoping that my mother in law in Sarasota would be blown away, but it seems not to have been so bad as they predicted,

Risking your life to own the libs.

MAGA #moron places a Trump flag on a pier in #Naples that likely will soon be washed away by the storm surge.🤷‍♀️

I'm in London so my coverage of this is limited. I have an aunt in Pasco County and she's not answering my texts. Slightly worried.

At least four killed in St. Lucia tornado on the east side of the state.

Players kept losing their balls in the roof of Tropicana Field.

No more.

Meaning, “Oops,” no shelter for the 10,000 first responders who were supposed to shelter there.

OMG, Boris was reporting from St. Pete's and OMG he had on a tight black t shirt and no hoodie. He looked incredible. Stay safe Boris! Anderson ought to pack it in and head back to NYC. He looked kind of ridiculous last night and knowing he has two little kids at home it's just stupid for him to think he can play in the hurricane the way he used to.

Anderson looked like Mr. Burns from The Simpsons, and hiding behind that palm tree LOL

Had a few people I know in the storms path, now that it's passed them, they're already complaining about the government's poor response and criticizing how little they'd have gotten if they'd lost everything. It's all I can do to NOT ask who MADE you move to FLORIDA?!?!

[quote] Anderson ought to pack it in and head back to NYC. He looked kind of ridiculous last night and knowing he has two little kids at home it's just stupid for him to think he can play in the hurricane the way he used to.

I so agree with this, r254.

I've gotta believe he's viewed the videotape of himself on TV last night and agrees with you, too.

He's had a good run. It's time for him to stay at his NY studio desk.

[quote]Had a few people I know in the storms path, now that it's passed them, they're already complaining about the government's poor response and criticizing how little they'd have gotten if they'd lost everything.

It's amazing how entitled the pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps crowd gets when they encounter hardship.

R257 - but those memories of his glory days in Katrina still beckon him back. The Hurricane NEEDS ME!

It's a bullshit egotistical thing to do, showing up for only the deadliest storms.

I hope all of those hurricane deniers and people threatening meteorologists got swept out to sea.

Are you still there, R251? I doubt if there were any serious problems in Pasco County unless your aunt lives on or near the beach. The hurricane hit a ways south of there. More likely than any harm done to her or her property is that the power and the internet are out and she has no way to communicate with you. Hell, my dad lives right in St. Pete, barely north of where the hurricane hit, he lives in a trailer, and he's fine. However, he has no power or water.

If you don't hear from her in a day or two (from now), [bold]then[/bold] I'd worry.

Good luck to you and her.

where is it going next?

[quote]Anderson looked like Mr. Burns from The Simpsons, and hiding behind that palm tree LOL

That near miss from the collapsing Ramada sign back in 2005 left its scars on poor Anderson.

R261 Thank you. She doesn't live there - she's visiting and got stuck. Last message said she was by St Leo's. I've not been to Florida so none of this means anything to me.

Ah, R261, I know [italic]exactly[/italic] where that is. I dated a young woman many years ago who was a grad student there. The area's kind of hilly -- especially for Florida -- and it's right off I-75, where there's been tons of traffic due to people evacuating from points south. Look for a Florida town called San Antonio if you want to find it on a map. It's far enough north of the storm that there probably were power outages, but I doubt if there was any serious damage.

I'll keep you and her in my thoughts, and hopefully, you'll hear from you soon.

Sorry, I meant R264.

*You'll hear from [bold]her[/bold] soon, R264.

I'm sorry -- I'm very tired. But I hope I've been helpful.

R267 You've been more than helpful.

Thank you very much x

Is it coming up the Eastern coast?

I've not watched any news

Review Brah checked in, he's fine