Milton

2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Cat-5
Max Wind Speed180 mph
Min Pressure897 mb
Duration6 days
RegionGulf of Mexico
LandfallFlorida (Siesta Key)
Damage$50B
Fatalities24
Formed2024-10-05

Overview

Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in just 24 hours, reaching the strongest intensity of the 2024 season with 180 mph winds and a pressure of 897 mb. It made landfall as a Category 3 in Florida, spawning dozens of tornadoes and causing massive damage. Milton was one of the most rapidly intensifying hurricanes ever recorded.

🧭 What This Means For You

💨 How dangerous was this wind?

Winds 157+ mph (252+ km/h). Catastrophic damage. A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse.

Compare: a typical car crash at 70 mph feels violent — imagine 180 mph sustained winds.

💰 What was the human cost?

To put this in perspective: $50B could fund thousands of rebuilding projects, or cover years of flood insurance premiums for an entire coastal county.

24 people lost their lives — behind every number is a family, a home, and a community that had to rebuild.

✅ What you can do today

  • Check your emergency kit — water, food, medicine, batteries
  • Know your evacuation route and shelter locations
  • Sign up for free alerts so you are never caught off guard

Storm Path

Storm Track Data

Time (UTC) Latitude Longitude Wind (mph) Pressure (mb)
2024-10-05 06:00 UTC 18°N 92°W 35 1005
2024-10-05 18:00 UTC 19.5°N 93°W 60 994
2024-10-06 00:00 UTC 20.5°N 94°W 90 977
2024-10-06 06:00 UTC 21.5°N 94.5°W 145 935
2024-10-06 12:00 UTC 22.5°N 94.5°W 180 897
2024-10-07 00:00 UTC 24°N 93°W 155 914
2024-10-07 12:00 UTC 25.5°N 90°W 145 922
2024-10-08 18:00 UTC 27.2°N 83°W 120 947
2024-10-09 06:00 UTC 27.3°N 82.5°W 105 957
2024-10-09 18:00 UTC 28.5°N 80°W 75 975
2024-10-10 06:00 UTC 31°N 75°W 45 990

Data Source

Track data from NOAA National Hurricane Center. Last updated: 2024-10-10.