USA travel warning as Hurricane Milton heads for Florida with 'life-threatening' risk
Travellers are being urged to check with their airline or travel agent about possible disruption to flights or airport services and follow their advice
by Sonia Sharma · ChronicleLiveThe UK Foreign Office has issued a warning for anyone planning to travel to the Florida area of America as Hurricane Milton approaches.
Florida's Gulf Coast is waiting for the impact of Hurricane Milton, which is expected to bring near-record winds and a massive storm surge. It could cause further destruction to areas already reeling from Hurricane Helene's devastation 12 days ago.
Almost the entirety of Florida's west coast was under a hurricane warning early on Tuesday as the Category 5 storm and its 165mph winds crept toward the state at 9mph, sucking energy from the Gulf of Mexico's warm water. Milton's centre could come ashore on Wednesday in the Tampa Bay region, which has not endured a direct hit by a major hurricane in more than a century.
On Tuesday, the UK Foreign Office updated its travel advice. It said: "Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida on the night of 9 October or morning of 10 October with tropical force winds affecting the west coast from the morning of 9 October. There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and high winds on the west coast and heavy rainfall and high winds are expected to impact large parts of Florida."
People are advised to monitor approaching storms on the US National Hurricane Center website and follow instructions from local authorities, including evacuation orders. Members of the public can also visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website for information on preparing for extreme weather and evacuating.
The Foreign Office adds: "Check with your airline or travel agent about possible disruption to flights or airport services and follow their advice." This travel advice also covers American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands.
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