Hurricane Milton has started to impact Florida, bringing terrifying tornados to the state’s south as the historic storm set to double in size before it hits Tampa Bay later tonight.
Milton is a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 160mph, according to a 5am National Hurricane Center update.
Its 155mph winds are becoming more wide-reaching from the center, increasing its capacity to cause widespread destruction.
Milton’s gales extended around 80 Monday and increased to just over 100 miles by Wednesday morning.
The storm sits around 300 miles off the coast of Tampa and is moving towards the city at around 14 miles an hour Wednesday.
Forecasters expect Milton to make landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 130mph.
The greatest danger is posed by the wall of water, known as a storm surge, that Milton will whip up. That could see up to 15 feet of water inundate Tampa Bay. Residents have been warned to evacuate, with the city’s airport closed yesterday.