Canadians in Florida urged to exercise caution in Hurricane Milton aftermath

A Canadian meteorologist with The Weather Network says it’s possible more extreme weather could come in the wake of Hurricane Milton’s devastation, and Canadians still in Florida should “take these storms seriously.”

Mark Robinson travelled to Florida on Tuesday to follow Milton’s development along the west coast, and says its rapid development made forecasting the exact location and landfall time challenging to predict, meaning residents in the state had little time to prepare.

Many Canadians live in Florida seasonally, and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly had urged them to leave Wednesday as millions were ordered to evacuate across several counties.

Robinson, who monitored the storm from Sarasota, Fla., where the eye of the hurricane passed through at night, says there were dangerous high-speed winds, debris flying across the streets and damage to trees and buildings.

He says early computer models show that there are still weather conditions developing that can produce tropical cyclones, which could lead to further hurricanes in the U.S. and up to Eastern Canada.

For Canadian snowbirds who travel to Florida in the winter, Robinson urges them to consider the impact of severe weather on property ownership or insurance coverage, and to always follow the advisories of local authorities.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.

Photo Credit: The roof of the Tropicana Field is damaged the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the region, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Julio Cortez