Decoding the storm: What a hurricane's reach really means

Two years after Hurricane Milton: What a hurricane's reach really means

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, brought a direct hit to Sarasota and placed Tampa Bay within the broader strike zone.

Decoding the storm: What a hurricane's reach really means

Landfall, direct hit, strike and indirect hit describe different relationships between a hurricane and a location — and the terms can overlap. Hurricane Milton shows why the path of the center is only one part of a storm’s story.