(FOX WEATHER) – Mandatory evacuations are underway across the west coast of Florida as millions of residents prepare for life-threatening impacts from Hurricane Milton, which continues to rapidly intensify over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and strengthened into a powerful Category 5 storm with winds of 175 mph.
The National Hurricane Center said Milton continues to “explosively intensify” and is urging residents to follow directions from local officials if told to leave.
BREAKING: Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified into a category 5 storm with 180 mph winds, ranking among the strongest ever recorded.
Not a single weather model predicted the storm would strengthen this quickly.
Do you believe this storm is completely natural? pic.twitter.com/mMTML2GYk5
— WorldNetDaily (@worldnetdaily) October 8, 2024
WATCH: Senator @TomCottonAR cuts through NBC’s spin on Hurricane Helene and FEMA funding, pointing out that Democrats always manage to find money to spend—except when it’s for Americans in need. #FEMA #HurricaneHelene pic.twitter.com/yIOr2hjaqD
— WorldNetDaily (@worldnetdaily) October 7, 2024
Tampa Bay Mayor Jane Castor issues a stark warning as Hurricane Milton approaches:
“If you stay in one of those evacuation centers, you're going to die.” pic.twitter.com/5dhsp9kfeo
— WorldNetDaily (@worldnetdaily) October 8, 2024
At 175 mph, Milton is the strongest Atlantic hurricane in 5 years since Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Milton is also tied for the fourth strongest storm since record keeping began. Hurricane Allen with 190 mph winds holds the record for the strongest Atlantic hurricane.
