The storm is predicted to travel across the Floridian Peninsula towards the Atlantic Ocean, sparing other US states ravaged by Helene.

Ron DeSantis. the Florida governor, warned that time for people to evacuate is quickly running out.

“We have to assume this is going to be a monster,” he said at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

When will Hurricane Milton hit Florida?

The storm is forecast to hit Florida’s eastern coast between 6pm and 11pm Wednesday night local time.

Some experts have said it could make landfall as late as Thursday morning.

How weathermen have reacted

A Miami meteorologist became visibly emotional during a live NBC TV broadcast as he reported on Hurricane Milton’s rapid intensification in the Gulf of Mexico.

Holding back tears, John Morales described the hurricane as “incredible” and “horrific” and said climate change and global warming were driving the storm’s growth.

“It has dropped fifty millibars in 10 hours,” Mr Morales said, his voice breaking up. “I apologise, this is just horrific.

“I mean, the seas are just so incredibly, incredibly hot. Record hot, as you might imagine,” he continued.

“You know what’s driving that, I don’t need to tell you: global warming, climate change.”