More than a million people are evacuating Florida as it braces for what could be the most destructive storm in a century.
As Hurricane Milton races toward the west-central coast, highways have been jammed for about 48 hours as residents follow evacuation orders.
‘Over a million’ are under orders to leave the area, Florida Division of Emergency Management executive director Kevin Guthrie told AccuWeather on Tuesday morning.
Many residents in Tampa Bay, where Milton is forecast to make a direct hit, boarded up their homes and stores.
Milton on Monday was a Category 5 storm so powerful that it reignited discussions around creating a Category 6 designation.
Late Monday, meteorologist Noah Bergren said that Milton had sustained winds of 180mh and gusts exceeding 200mph.
‘This is nothing short of astronomical,’ said Bergren.
‘I am at a loss for words to meteorologically describe to you the storm’s small eye and intensity.
‘This hurricane is nearing the mathematical limit of what Earth’s atmosphere over this ocean water can produce.’
Milton was downgraded to a Category 4 on Tuesday morning with maximum sustained winds of 155mph, which is just below the Category 5 threshold of 157mph winds or higher.
Categories from 1 to 5 run in increments of about 20mph, but stop at 5 which is designated at 157mph or higher in the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale developed by a civil engineer in 1971.
Earlier this years, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Space Science and Engineering Center researchers said that a Category 6 should be added for wind speeds over 192mph because climate change could trigger such storms.
But in February, the National Hurricane Center said it does not plan to modify the existing scale.
There is no evidence that including a Category 6 ‘would improve preparation or decisions’, said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter.
On Monday, weatherman John Morales teared up on live TV as warned viewers of the ‘horrific’ approaching hurricane.
‘Even though it is expected to weaken upon approach, it is so incredibly strong right now,’ said Porter.
But other forecasts have predicted that Milton will strengthen again as it makes its expected landfall on late Wednesday or early Thursday.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE : Full list of water companies forced to pay back £157,000,000 to customers
MORE : Hero dog leads cops to her injured owner in a cabin in the woods
MORE : Donald Trump has made one of his most racist statements yet
Get your need-to-know
latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.