Hurricane Milton Intensifies to Category 4! 

United States: Hurricane Milton which has almost rapidly intensified into a dangerous Category 4 hurricane of 150 mph (240 kmh) winds and also heading toward Florida Monday morning. On the Gulf Coast, one that’s still recovering from Helene’s record storm landfall seven days earlier.  

Milton is gaining steam on the path to landfall Wednesday evening in the Tampa Bay area where millions are faced the prospect of evacuation. 

The National Hurricane Center in an 11 a.m. ET update said Milton should become a Category 5 hurricane today. 

Speaking at a press conference Monday alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state’s director of emergency management, Kevin Guthrie, told residents in the Tampa Bay area to be evacuating. 

“I beg you. I implore you,” Guthrie said. That means storm surge drowning deaths are 100 percent preventable if you leave. 

De Santis also said Monday 51 counties in Florida are under a state emergency, and he has asked FEMA for pre-landfall assistance as the hurricane approaches. 

The White House has already said on Sunday that President Biden was briefed on the situation, including what the hurricane could mean in the Florida Gulf Coast and the FEMA work underway before the storm. 

The Mexican government admitted a hurricane watch for Mexico’s coast from Celestun to Cabo Catoche and a tropical storm warning from Celestun to Cancun, the NHC said. The peninsula of Florida, the Florida Keys and northwestern Bahamas are being warned to keep their eyes on its path. 

On Monday, NHC warned of “increasing risk” of the life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds for portions of Florida west coast starting Tuesday night or early Wednesday. 

“Residents in that area should follow any advice given by the local officials and the evacuate if told to do so, “the NHC said. 

Portions of the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys can expect rainfall of 5 to 10 inches, with the localized totals up to 15 inches through Wednesday night and such rainfall brings and the risk of the considerable flash urban and the areal flooding along with the potential for the moderate to major flooding,” meteorologists said.