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.
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.
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.”
Hurricane Milton is set to wreak havoc across Florida in the coming daysPreparations are made for Hurricane Milton's arrival in Florida on October 07, 2024,(Ima
* UK water companies told to repay customers $206m due to environmental failings Companies unlikely to meet 2020-25 targets * Thames Water
On Monday, Robert Jenrick said David Lammy had signed the deal so that he could “feel good about himself at his next north Lo