Gov. Ron DeSantis warned that the time for people to evacuate was quickly approaching.
“We have to assume this is going to be a monster,” DeSantis said at a news conference Monday afternoon, with officials warning of Category 5 status for the storm.
The warning about Hurricane Milton comes just 10 days after Hurricane Helen, the deadliest since Katrina in 2005, tore through the southeastern United States, killing at least 225 people. Hundreds more are missing.
At least 14 of the deaths were in Florida, and 51 of 67 counties are now on emergency warning as Milton approaches.
“Unfortunately, some of the Helene victims are in the path of this storm,” DeSantis said.
National Weather Service (NWS) Director Ken Graham said Milton became a Category 5 hurricane at a record pace. Wind speeds strengthened to 80 knots (148 km/h) over 24 hours.
“This is the third highest number on record,” he said.
Hurricanes are divided into five categories based on wind speed:
According to the NWS, hurricanes that are Category 3 or higher are considered major hurricanes because they have the potential to cause significant loss of life and damage.
Hurricane Milton is expected to weaken as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday and is expected to drop to a Category 3 storm by the time it makes landfall in Tampa Bay, Florida, Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning.
The National Hurricane Center warned that heavy rain and flash flooding were expected in parts of Florida starting late Monday.
It added that life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds could develop along parts of Florida’s west coast beginning late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
Rainfall totals could reach local peaks of 15 inches (38 cm), and coastal areas could see storm surges of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 m).
