Milton is the tenth major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger) to make landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast since 2017. Prior to Harvey in 2017, the U.S. had gone 12 years without a major hurricane landfall (Wilma, 2005). #Milton | #FLwx | Graphic: @weatherchannel pic.twitter.com/q0eA8HuYID

With reverse storm surge, especially in larger storms, the opposite happens, explained AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok in 2022, after Ian hit. “It can pull the water out because the wind flow is coming from land to ocean, and it pushes the water,” he said. “The power of the wind is incredible.”

Hurricane Milton is weakening slightly but remains a ferocious storm that could land a once-in-a-century direct hit on Tampa and St. Petersburg, engulfing the populous region with towering storm surge