FLORIDA – Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified at a mind-boggling rate into a Category 5 over the record-warm Gulf of Mexico. It is expected to grow in size, which means that although it may decrease in category, its dangerous impacts will be spread over a much larger area.

Milton is forecast to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday. Its dangerous eye and eyewall could come ashore anywhere from Cedar Key at the north to Naples at the south – including possibly in the Tampa or Ft. Myers areas.

It’s only been 10 days since Helene scoured Florida’s Gulf Coast with storm surge and slammed into the Big Bend as a Category 4. Now, officials are asking residents – still in recovery mode – to evacuate or prepare for another life-threatening storm. (CNN) …[+]