Hurricane Milton strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Monday, threatening Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Florida, which is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, Reuters reports.
Milton rapidly escalated from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in less than 24 hours, with winds reaching 180 mph (285 kph), marking it as the third-fastest intensifying storm on record in the Atlantic. The storm is expected to weaken before landfall in Florida on Wednesday and officials have warned of severe winds, rain, and a storm surge of 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 meters).
The storm has prompted mass evacuations in Florida, with Pinellas County ordering a mandatory evacuation affecting over 500,000 residents. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 51 counties, and US President Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration for Florida to facilitate federal disaster relief.
Milton is projected to cross the peninsula and maintain hurricane status as it moves toward the Atlantic coast. The hurricane marks the ninth of the season and is the second to reach Category 5 this year, following Hurricane Beryl in July.
