Deputy Editor-in-Chief
WATCH LIVE: Hurricane Milton moves up to Category 5, 160 mph winds | FOX's LiveNOW
UPDATED, 2:40 p.m. PT: “We have to assume this is going to be a monster,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said today during a briefing on preparedness for Hurricane Milton.
The storm is now a strong Category 5 hurricane, leading the category with sustained winds of 180 mph, according to the latest Weather Channel report. That means Milton's sustained winds have increased by 100 mph in 24 hours, going from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in near-record time. Only Wilma, in 2005, and Felix, in 2007, have intensified faster, according to the National Hurricane Service. The latest National Weather Service forecast indicates the storm could strengthen even further, reaching peak sustained winds of 185 mph in the next 12 hours.
As a result, states of emergency have been declared in counties across the state, as residents and visitors begin to evacuate. Sporting events are being postponed and some theme parks in Florida are being closed, while the state's two largest resorts, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, remain open.
