NBC6 meteorologist John Morales had an emotional moment on air while reporting on Hurricane Milton’s approach toward the U.S. coast.
Visibly Moved by Storm
Morales, who is widely respected for his calm demeanor, was visibly moved when he announced that the storm had intensified, losing 50 millibars of pressure in just 10 hours.
“This is an incredible hurricane. It’s terrifying,” Morales said, fighting back tears as he explained the storm’s rapid development.
He went on to describe how the sustained winds had reached 160 miles per hour (257 km/h) and how Milton had gained strength over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The meteorologist also attributed the storm’s rapid intensification to the broader impacts of global warming and climate change, which he believes are creating increasingly dangerous weather events.
Apologized to Viewers
After his emotional broadcast, Morales apologized to viewers, but later opened up about the toll extreme weather has taken on him in a post on X (formerly Twitter), acccording to Ziare. “Extreme weather driven by global warming has changed me,” he said. “Honestly, I was shaken.”
Hurricane Milton is one of the most powerful storms of the season and is expected to make landfall in Florida. The state, still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Helene just weeks ago, is bracing for what could be a catastrophic event.
With gusts currently reaching 180 miles per hour (285 km/h), the storm has been classified as an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane.
Tampa Bay, one of Florida's most populated areas, is directly in the storm’s path, and residents are being urged to evacuate immediately. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a stark warning: "We must assume this will be a monster," he said at a press conference, noting that the window for evacuation is rapidly closing.
