Hurricane Milton has strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane. “If the storm stays on the current track, it will be the worst storm to impact the Tampa area in over 100 years,” the National Weather Service Tampa Bay stated. 10/07/24 11am Major Hurricane Milton UpdateNow a Category 5 HurricaneIf the storm stays on the current track, it will be the worst storm to impact the Tampa area in over 100 years. Please evacuate if told to do so. Complete all prep before tomorrow night. #flwx pic.twitter.com/Cq9tJsfr2A — NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) October 7, 2024 * Images from NWS Tampa Bay X Post * “Hurricane Milton is undergoing one of the fastest rapid intensifications ever observed in the Atlantic. It is now a 155 mph Category 4 storm, just 2 mph shy of Category 5 status. Not a single weather model predicted the storm would strengthen this quickly,” Extreme Weather digital creator Colin McCarthy said. Hurricane Milton is undergoing one of the fastest rapid intensifications ever observed in the Atlantic. It is now a 155 mph Category 4 storm, just 2 mph shy of Category 5 status. Not a single weather model predicted the storm would strengthen this quickly. pic.twitter.com/lqX76Ryvqv — Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) October 7, 2024 Per USA TODAY: Hurricane Milton strengthened to a Category 5 powerhouse Monday, driving sustained winds of 175 mph as it rolled across the Gulf of Mexico bound for what could be a devastating crash along Florida’s already storm-battered western coast Wednesday. “Milton explosively intensifies with 175-mph winds,” the National Hurricane Center said in its 2 p.m. ET advisory, urging Florida residents to heed the advice of local officials. The storm, now about 700 miles from the state, rapidly strengthened from Category 2 to 5 in just a few hours Monday. By Tuesday, Milton’s intensity “should be dictated by any eyewall replacement cycles, which will likely cause the system to gradually weaken but grow larger,” the NHC said. The center has issued hurricane watches across portions of Florida and warned that parts of the state could be overwhelmed by life-threatening storm surge, flooding rain and damaging winds. Milton is forecast to remain an “extremely dangerous” hurricane for the next couple of days. Some weakening is forecast before the hurricane reaches the coast, but Milton “is still likely to be a large and powerful hurricane at landfall in Florida,” hurricane center specialist Jack Beven wrote in an advisory. Hurricane Milton is now a 175 MPH Category 5 storm and tied as the 4th strongest Atlantic hurricane in history. pic.twitter.com/8us53F1OFJ — Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) October 7, 2024 “The National Hurricane Center has officially declared that Milton is now an extremely dangerous Category 5 Hurricane, with peak winds of 160 mph or higher and still undergoing extreme rapid intensification,” Rawsalerts wrote. #BREAKING: The National Hurricane Center has officially declared that Milton is now an extremely dangerous Category 5 Hurricane, with peak winds of 160 mph or higher and still undergoing extreme rapid intensification pic.twitter.com/st9i7YGxHC — R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) October 7, 2024 From the Associated Press: The compact Milton intensified quickly Monday and was expected to become a large hurricane over the eastern Gulf. It had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (257 kph), the National Hurricane Center said. The storm’s center was about 130 miles (210 kilometers) west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 720 miles (1,160 kilometers) southwest of Tampa at midday Monday, moving east-southeast at 9 mph (15 kph). Its center could come ashore Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area, and it could remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean. That would largely spare other states ravaged by Helene, which killed at least 230 people on its path from Florida to the Appalachian Mountains. Forecasters warned of a possible 8- to 12-foot storm surge (2.4 to 3.6 meters) in Tampa Bay and said flash and river flooding could result from 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters) of rain in mainland Florida and the Keys, with as much as 15 inches (38 centimeters) in places. The Tampa Bay area is still rebounding from Helene and its powerful surge. Twelve people died, with the worst damage along a string of barrier islands from St. Petersburg to Clearwater. The state of Florida has initiated what’s likely the largest evacuation since 2017’s Hurricane Irma. Largest Evacuation Since 2017 Commences In Florida, Hurricane Milton Rapidly Intensifies