Milton strengthens into Category 4 hurricane, triggers storm surge warnings for Florida's Gulf Coast

Life-threatening storm surges are expected to hit Florida's Gulf Coast this week with the arrival of Hurricane Milton, which was upgraded early Monday into a Category 4 hurricane over the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Life-threatening storm surges are expected to hit Florida's Gulf Coast this week with the arrival of Hurricane Milton, which was upgraded early Monday into a Category 4 hurricane over the southern Gulf of Mexico.

The storm first strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane by 7 a.m. and by 9 a.m. ET rapidly intensified into a Category 4, the National Hurricane Center said.

Data from Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicated Milton has estimated maximum sustained winds of 150 mph.

The storm is forecast to make landfall Wednesday evening in Florida, which along with the wider southeastern United States continues to recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene. Widespread evacuation orders are likely across Florida.

As many as 15 million people are under flood watches across the Florida Peninsula and 11 million are at risk for tropical tornadoes tomorrow and Wednesday. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/hurricane-milton-strengthens-major-storm-florida-rcna174229

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