Milton is officially a Category 5 storm as it nears Florida

 

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast and wreaked a path of destruction across the southeastern U.S., the state is bracing for another — and likely even more powerful — major hurricane to come ashore.

Hurricane Milton reached Category 5 strength on Monday morning, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, the National Hurricane Center said shortly before noon E.T.

It underwent what forecasters call "remarkable" rapid intensification after being upgraded from a tropical storm on Sunday, blowing past Category 4 strength in a matter of hours.

The National Hurricane Center had warned earlier on Monday that Milton would soon become a Category 5 storm, predicting it would reach maximum sustained winds of 165 mph in 12 hours before weakening gradually.

But it appears to have strengthened even faster than experts predicted, with NHC Director Michael Brennan calling its rate of intensification "extreme" in a Monday morning briefing.

"There are simply no words to describe the extraordinary intensification we have witnessed in this storm today," US Stormwatch weather analyst Colin McCarthy posted on X.

As of midday Monday, Milton was about 125 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 735 miles west-southwest of Tampa, moving east at the relatively slow pace of about 9 mph.

Much of the Yucatan Peninsula coast is under a hurricane warning, while hurricane watches, storm surge watches and tropical storm watches and warnings are in effect for parts of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula.

Milton is expected to move just north of the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday before crossing the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approaching Florida’s west coast by Wednesday.

The NHC says most models agree that Milton will cross the Florida Peninsula, though people “should not focus on the exact track” because models still disagree about the exact location and timing of landfall.

10:55 CDT Monday Update: Milton rapidly intensifies into a category 5 hurricane. Data from a @53rdWRS hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to 160 mph (250 km/h) with higher gusts. Follow the latest at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/mOxuvGdtu5

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 7, 2024

Even so, forecasters warn that it is likely to be a “large and powerful hurricane at landfall in Florida, with life-threatening hazards along portions of the coastline.”

They say areas of heavy rainfall will impact portions of Florida on Monday, and again on Tuesday through Wednesday night, bringing “the risk of considerable flash, urban and areal flooding,” and the potential for moderate to major river flooding.

Parts of the Florida Peninsula and Keys could see 5 to 10 inches of rain through Wednesday night, with localized totals up to 15 inches in some areas.

There is also a growing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds for parts of Florida’s west coast beginning late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Forecasters say it could raise water levels to as high as 8 to 12 feet in coastal areas of Florida, including Tampa Bay.

Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, speaking at a Monday morning briefing, implored Tampa Bay residents under evacuation orders to heed them.

"I beg you, I implore you, to evacuate," he said. "Drowning deaths due to storm surge are 100% preventable, if you leave."

Several Florida counties have ordered evacuations so far, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that people should expect "a flurry of them" throughout the day. State officials are urging Floridians to follow local guidance and make emergency preparations, whether they are evacuating or sheltering at home.