In less than 24 hours, Hurricane Milton reached Category 5, the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm, wreaks havoc on the Yucatán Peninsula.
At 00:01 on October 8, 2024, Hurricane Milton was downgraded to Category 4, as reported by the National Water Commission (Conagua). The cyclone, which had reached Category 5, the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale, shifted its cone of uncertainty, moving 30 km north, thus ruling out a direct impact of the hurricane’s center on the Yucatán coast.
However, the system’s cloud bands continue to affect northern Campeche, Yucatán, and northern Quintana Roo this Tuesday, where wind gusts have been felt in various regions.
By midnight on Tuesday, Milton was located 85 km north-northwest of Dzilam and 120 km west-northwest of Río Lagartos, Yucatán. With maximum sustained winds of 250 km/h and gusts up to 280 km/h, wind gusts of 180 to 200 km/h and waves reaching heights of 6 to 8 meters were expected along the coasts of Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo.
Early on, in response to the threat, the state of Yucatán suspended non-essential activities. Residents have taken precautionary measures, such as boarding up doors and windows, while fishermen have brought their boats ashore. In Quintana Roo, panic buying was reported, prompting Governor Mara Lezama to calm the population.
The red alert in Yucatán was activated for 67 municipalities, which will be directly affected; activities at Mérida International Airport were also canceled.
The municipalities under alert include: Abalá, Acanceh, Baca, Bokobá, Buctzotz, Cacalchén, Calotmul, Cansahcab, Celestún, Cenotillo, Conkal, Cuzamá, Chicxulub Pueblo, Chocholá, Dzemul, Dzidzantún, Dzilam de Bravo, Dzilam González, Dzoncauich, Espita, Halachó, Hocabá, Hoctún, Homún, Huhí, Hunucmá, Ixil, Izamal, Kanasín, Kantunil, Kinchil, Kopomá, Maxcanú, Mérida, Mocochá, Motul, Muxupip, Opichén, Panabá, Progreso, Río Lagartos, Samahil, Sanahcat, San Felipe, Seyé, Sinanché, Sucilá, Sudzal, Suma, Tahmek, Tecoh, Tekal de Venegas, Tekantó, Telchac Pueblo, Telchac Puerto, Temax, Tepakán, Tetiz, Teya, Timucuy, Tixkokob, Tixpéhual, Tizimín, Tunkás, Ucú, Umán, Xocchel, Yaxkukul, and Yobaín.
On social media, striking images and videos document the magnitude of the storm, which has already begun to cause havoc on the Yucatán Peninsula (comprising Quintana Roo, Yucatán, and Campeche), mainly in places like Celestún, Puerto Progreso, and Cancún.
One of the most alarming images is from Puerto Progreso, where the sea has overflowed and water is dangerously approaching the streets.
The images show how the waves are forcefully hitting coastal structures.
In Cancún, a viral video captures a lightning strike near the coast, a visual reminder of the intense electrical activity accompanying the storm.
Celestún has also been a focus on social media, where residents have shared recordings of their flooded homes. In some areas, the water level has reached waist height in places that traditionally do not experience flooding.Cancún enfrenta lluvias intensas debido a la proximidad del potente huracán Milton en las costas de Quintana Roo.
Source: Infobae