Is extreme weather our most urgent challenge? Hundreds of thousands of people have been told to leave Florida, where Hurricane Milton is due to make landfall today.
Forecaster's tears over monster storm
Is extreme weather our most urgent challenge? Hundreds of thousands of people have been told to leave Florida, where Hurricane Milton is due to make landfall today.
"It's just an incredible, incredible, incredible hurricaneA storm with violent winds that move in a circular direction. ," warned the veteranSomebody with a lot of experience in a job. Also used to refer to former soldiers. weather forecaster.
John Morales paused. Tears appeared in his eyes. "I apologiseSay sorry. : this is just... horrific."
Hurricane Milton is set to land in the US state of FloridaA coastal state in the south-east of the US, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Though nicknamed "the sunshine state", it also experiences phenomenal rainstorms. tonight.
Morales was alarmed by how quickly the hurricane was getting stronger.
Hurricanes are graded from 1 to 5. Category 3 up means there is a serious threat to life. Category 5 means a speed of at least 157 mph. Experts are saying it could be one of the most destructive storms on record, even though the forecast is that it will have dropped to a Category 4 storm when it reaches land.
It looked as if a Category 6 might have to be invented for Milton. This morning, it is a Category 5 storm. Though expected to weaken, it will double in size, causing damage over a larger area.
The city of Tampa is right in the hurricane's path. Residents in several areas have been told to leave. "If you choose to stay in one of those evacuationLeaving an area due to danger, often temporarily. areas, you are going to die," said the city's mayor.
Politics is also playing a part in this crisis. Florida's governorIn the USA, governors are elected leaders of the 50 states. , who is from the same party as Donald TrumpAn American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025., has refused to take calls from the US vice presidentIn the USA, the vice president can take over from the president if they are unable to run the country. Kamala Harris.
Some fear what may happen if Donald Trump is elected as president again in November. In one plan for what Trump should do as president, known as Project 2025, one suggestion is getting rid of public weather forecasts.
The plan also suggests getting rid of a group that leads climate changeLong-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change. research in the USA.
Is extreme weather our most urgent challenge?
Yes! In recent years the world has faced hurricanes, floods, droughtsA time when there is not enough water and the ground is very dry. and wildfires. We need to take action now before things get worse.
No! We can prepare for extreme weather. The bigger threats are from war, artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence, or "AI," is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning. and illnesses such as Covid-19The official scientific name for the type of coronavirus that swept the world from March 2020..
Hurricane - A storm with violent winds that move in a circular direction.
Veteran - Somebody with a lot of experience in a job. Also used to refer to former soldiers.
Apologise - Say sorry.
Florida - A coastal state in the south-east of the US, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Though nicknamed "the sunshine state", it also experiences phenomenal rainstorms.
Evacuation - Leaving an area due to danger, often temporarily.
Governor - In the USA, governors are elected leaders of the 50 states.
Donald Trump - An American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025.
Vice president - In the USA, the vice president can take over from the president if they are unable to run the country.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Droughts - A time when there is not enough water and the ground is very dry.
Artificial Intelligence - Artificial intelligence, or "AI," is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning.
Covid-19 - The official scientific name for the type of coronavirus that swept the world from March 2020.
Forecaster’s tears over monster storm

Glossary
Hurricane - A storm with violent winds that move in a circular direction.
Veteran - Somebody with a lot of experience in a job. Also used to refer to former soldiers.
Apologise - Say sorry.
Florida - A coastal state in the south-east of the US, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Though nicknamed "the sunshine state", it also experiences phenomenal rainstorms.
Evacuation - Leaving an area due to danger, often temporarily.
Governor - In the USA, governors are elected leaders of the 50 states.
Donald Trump - An American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025.
Vice president - In the USA, the vice president can take over from the president if they are unable to run the country.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Droughts - A time when there is not enough water and the ground is very dry.
Artificial Intelligence - Artificial intelligence, or “AI,” is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning.
Covid-19 - The official scientific name for the type of coronavirus that swept the world from March 2020.