Tropical weather news
Severe winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Helen destroyed one-fifth of the cotton crop in Georgia, the second-largest cotton state in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's monthly crop production report (WASDE), Agriculture News reported Oct. 15. A preliminary damage report from the University of Georgia put cotton losses at $207-220 million. State officials said the storm's total damage to Georgia agriculture amounted to $6.46 billion ($625 billion). “Georgia and North Carolina accounted for the majority of the reduction,” the WASDE report said. The hurricane hit the states during harvest time. In addition, poultry farms closed during the rampage, which also took a significant economic toll.
More »At least 16 people have died from Hurricane Milton, which roared onshore on Florida's west coast as a Category 3 hurricane, bringing tornadoes, powerful winds and flooding rains. The monster storm forced millions to evacuate and left widespread destruction across Florida. More than 2 million customers remain without power in Florida on Friday afternoon. Over 3 million customers lost power at the height of the storm. Duke Energy said it plans to restore power by Sunday night in Brevard, Citrus, Hernando, Highlands, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties.
More »Tropical Storm Milton — the 13th named storm in the 2024 hurricane season — has formed and is forecast to become a major hurricane before hitting Florida this week. Milton is forecast to intensify while moving northeastward toward Florida’s Gulf Coast and could make landfall Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane or stronger, the National Hurricane Center reported Saturday afternoon. Milton strengthened from a depression into a tropical storm within hours Saturday, reaching sustained winds of 40 miles per hour. As of 5 p.m., the storm was located over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
More »Hurricane Helene left an enormous path of destruction across Florida and the entire southeastern U.S. on Friday, killing at least 44 people in four states, snapping trees like twigs, tearing apart homes and sending rescue crews on desperate missions to save people from floodwaters. Among those killed were three firefighters, a woman and her 1-month-old twins, and an 89-year-old woman whose house was struck by a falling tree. According to an Associated Press tally, the deaths occurred in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
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