Hurricane Milton strengthened into a powerful Category 5 storm Monday, on a track forecast to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast mid-week. It was intensifying rapidly over warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, although forecasters said they expect Milton to weaken somewhat before striking land.
Just before noon Eastern Time, Milton had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph as it traveled eastward over warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
Forecasters predict Milton will make landfall as a major hurricane around the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday, drenching a large part of a state still reeling from Hurricane Helene . But predictions oscillated early Monday on the timing of Milton’s landfall and the expected strength when it arrives, as the hurricane has changed quickly in a matter of hours.
The latest update showed Milton centered about 130 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 720 miles southwest of Tampa.
Major hurricanes are those that reach Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale , meaning sustained wind speeds are at least 111 mph. Sustained winds of 130 mph elevate a storm to Category 4, and 157 mph means a Category 5.