Hurricane Milton Is About to End Tampa’s Century of Good Luck
A potential direct hit is looming for a thriving metropolitan area that has long avoided the worst effects of powerful storms
Piles of debris from Hurricane Helene remain uncollected ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall in Treasure Island on Oct. 7.
Photographer: Tristan Wheelock/BloombergMilton is on track to deal a devastating blow to Florida’s vibrant Tampa Bay region, potentially delivering the first direct hit from a hurricane in a century just as residents and businesses were beginning to pick up the pieces from Helene.
The area, which includes the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, is home to more than 3 million people, a major US military base, Florida’s largest port, beaches that attract tens of millions of tourists a year and a state university with nearly 50,000 students.