Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton, powerful tropical cyclone that delivered high winds, heavy rains, and flooding to the state of Yucatán in Mexico, western Cuba, and east-central Florida in the United States in October 2024. Hurricane Milton is also known for its explosive intensification, growing from a tropical storm to a category 5 hurricane in less than 24 hours, making it one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record (see also List of the Strongest Atlantic Hurricanes). The hurricane was directly responsible for 15 deaths—12 in Florida and 3 in Mexico—and indirectly responsible for 27 more during the preparation and aftermath phases of the storm.

Milton caused extensive damage, and it proved to be one of the most expensive natural disasters of 2024. As of January 2025, the National Centers for Environmental Information assessed total costs for damage caused by Milton at $34.3 billion. In Mexico and Cuba storm damage also included infrastructure networks and crop losses, as well as global industry disruptions.

Emergence

Milton began as a tropical wave off the west coast of Africa on September 14. The storm system remained disorganized until merging with two additional weather systems, one west of the Cabo Verde islands and another with a similar origin off the coast of Africa. True storm development began once these fronts combined. On September 29 the resulting disturbance reached the western Caribbean, where it came into contact with the remnants of a low-pressure gyre that was responsible for Hurricanes Helene (September 24–27, 2024) and John (September 22–27, 2024).

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The wave moved toward the Gulf of Mexico. The northern half weakened near Texas, but the southern half strengthened into a tropical depression on October 5, off the coast of Tampico, Mexico, in the Bay of Campeche. As the system moved northward, the lack of wind shear and unusually warm sea surface temperatures (which had been attributed to climate change) created favorable conditions for rapid intensification. Milton coalesced into a tropical storm shortly after noon local time on October 5, becoming a category 1 hurricane some 24 hours later in the western Gulf of Mexico roughly halfway between Tampico and Mérida, Mexico. Between 1:00 pm on October 6 and 11:00 am on October 7, Milton grew from a category 1 hurricane to a category 5 (see also Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale).

Landfall

At 4:00 pm on October 7 Milton reached peak intensity as a category 5 hurricane with sustained winds measuring 180 miles (290 km) per hour, before it weakened slightly. The next day Milton delivered a glancing blow to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, bringing torrential rainfall and a storm surge; however, the eye of the storm and its most damaging winds remained offshore.

Milton’s path was influenced by the development of another storm system to its northeast and north. By October 9 Milton was located over somewhat cooler waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Combined with increasing wind shear (which prevents vertical cloud development), the cooler sea surface led to Milton’s weakening, and the storm was downgraded to a category 3 as it neared the west coast of Florida. Milton made landfall at Siesta Key, Florida, near Sarasota, at 8:30 pm with maximum sustained winds of 120 miles (193 km) per hour, causing extensive damage across the Sarasota and Tampa Bay areas.

Milton tracked north and east across Florida, charting a path toward Cape Canaveral and Daytona Beach, which it reached on October 10. The storm continued eastward over the Atlantic, gradually losing strength, before it dissipated on October 12 south of Bermuda.

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Damage and aftermath

On October 11 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis requested an expedited major disaster declaration, which Pres. Joe Biden approved the same day. The most intense wind damage in Florida was confined to a relatively small area. Much of the broader destruction stemmed from widespread tropical storm conditions. Both Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts experienced significant storm surges, potentially reaching 10 feet (3 meters) above ground level near Venice Beach. Rainfall totals approached 20 inches (51 cm) in St. Petersburg and 17 inches (43 cm) near Ormond Beach, resulting in widespread urban and river flooding. Hundreds of residents were rescued from flooded homes and apartment buildings in the days following the storm.

On October 9 alone Florida recorded 45 tornadoes attributed to Milton, including three tornadoes rated EF-3 (that is, having wind speeds of 136–165 miles [219–266 km] per hour) on the Enhanced Fujita scale. This made Milton the first tropical cyclone to produce more than one EF-3 tornado since official records began in 1995. Notably, the Tampa Bay Rays’ home stadium, Tropicana Field, lost its roof to hurricane-force winds, and repairs were projected to cost more than $22.5 million.

Recovery and rebuilding efforts began immediately following Milton’s landfall, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded more than $2 billion to affected residents. State agencies and local governments coordinated relief efforts that included emergency housing, debris removal, and infrastructure repair, including power grids. Long-term concerns focused on rebuilding resilient, storm-resistant housing and working with Florida insurance providers to clarify and reinforce coverage networks and assess included damages. The World Meteorological Organization officially retired the name “Milton” from its list of hurricane names in 2024.