Grapevine

Hurricane Milton strengthens as it heads towards storm-ravaged Florida

Florida governor warns residents of ‘major impacts’ as storm could make landfall in southeastern US state by midweek.

Hurricane Milton is gaining strength as it churns towards the coast of Florida, authorities have warned, as the southeastern United States continues to reel in the aftermath of the deadly and destructive Hurricane Helene.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Sunday that Milton had intensified into a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130km per hour (80 miles per hour).

It was expected to “become a major hurricane on Monday”, the NHC said.

While forecast models vary widely, the most likely path suggests Milton could make landfall on Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area and remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida into the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said.