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Hurricane Milton exploded in strength Monday to become a potentially catastrophic Category 5 storm bound for Florida, threatening the US state with a second ferocious hurricane in as many weeks.
Milton, which is forecast to batter Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula as it churns eastward, rapidly intensified to the highest category on a scale of five, triggering evacuation orders and warnings of savage conditions on Florida’s west coast.
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Communities hit by Hurricane Helene, which slammed Florida late last month, raced to remove debris that could become dangerous projectiles as Milton barrels in.
“Last time, people’s cars were underwater… but the bigger issue this time is going to be the wind,” said David Levitsky, a retired homeowner on Treasure Island, in Pinellas County.
Residents on the low-lying island have been piling up debris from Helene’s flooding in their front yards for removal.
“All this stuff is just wind fodder that’s going to just be blowing down the street and hitting who knows what,” the 69-year-old told AFP.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the storm’s maximum sustained winds were near 180 miles (285 kilometers) per hour.
“Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida,” it warned.
Florida authorities have issued mandatory evacuations orders for areas including some parts of Tampa, a metropolitan area of more than three million people that could take a direct hit.
