Hurricane Milton, a rapidly intensifying storm, is bearing down on the west coast of Florida, threatening widespread power outages and potential devastation. The National Weather Service Tampa Bay X account has been issuing urgent warnings as Milton, now a Category 5 hurricane, approaches.
The National Hurricane Service has issued a warning for a Category 5 cyclone, stating that Milton has “explosively intensified” with wind speeds reaching 175 mph. This extreme rapid intensification, defined as a wind speed increase of 58 mph or more in 24 hours, has catapulted Milton from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane in a mere 24 hours. NBC meteorologist Kathryn Prociv highlighted the alarming speed of the storm’s intensification, noting that Milton has seen a 90 mph increase in wind speed.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has captured the alarming growth of Milton with weather satellites. Images reveal the storm’s rapid expansion over a short period. Officials predict Milton will make landfall on the west coast of Florida, specifically around the Tampa Bay region, on Wednesday. If Milton reaches landfall at its current strength, it would be the most powerful storm to impact the Tampa area in over 100 years, according to the National Weather Service. This unprecedented hurricane poses a serious threat to the region, prompting urgent preparations and warnings from authorities.
