Hurricane Milton Causes Significant Storm Surge on Florida's Gulf Coast

By Eric Zerkel, CNN

Hurricane Milton has unleashed a powerful storm surge across Florida’s Gulf Coast, with water levels surging between 5 to 10 feet above ground level, as reported by preliminary assessments from the National Hurricane Center. The most severe impacts were felt along a 65-mile stretch of coastline from Siesta Key, where the hurricane made landfall, to Ft. Myers Beach.

The storm surge resulted from Milton’s strong winds, which forced the waters of the Gulf of Mexico onto land. The hurricane’s counterclockwise winds mean that the most intense storm surge occurred where these winds pushed water onshore, specifically to the east and south of the eye.

Fortunately, the hurricane's landfall location south of Tampa Bay helped avoid the dire predictions of a potential 15-foot storm surge in that area, instead directing the surge into regions further along the coastline.

In the coming weeks, surveys will be conducted to assess the extent of the damage along the affected areas, which will also provide clarity on the peak storm surge levels experienced.

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