Environment

Hurricane Milton has strengthened into a Category 5 storm as it approaches Florida, posing a significant threat.

Just two weeks after Hurricane Helene, which also struck Florida and claimed 20 lives, the southern U.S. state is now bracing for another storm expected to hit the Tampa Bay area.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Milton has "intensified explosively," with maximum wind speeds reaching 174 mph.

Milton is set to impact Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday before moving toward Florida’s west coast by Wednesday.

However, Milton’s strength is expected to weaken as it reaches Florida, although it "still likely to be a large and powerful hurricane at landfall in Florida, with life-threatening hazards at the coastline and well inland" according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

(QGA - Forbes/ National Hurricane Center / Picture: © Pixabay)