Hurricane Milton is approaching Florida as a category 5 storm, the highest level on the intensity scale. Forecasters say it poses an “extremely serious threat,” and President Joe Biden warned it could be “one of the worst storms” to hit Florida in 100 years.
Milton had previously weakened to a Category 4 storm before regaining its strength on Tuesday. Forecasters expect it will make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday.
The National Hurricane Center is warning the hurricane could produce storm surges 3 to 4.5 meters high. It warned that residents living along hundreds of kilometers of coastline are in danger.
The area was hit by another major storm, Hurricane Helene, less than two weeks ago. Forecasters warn that Milton could whip up pieces of debris still on the ground and turn them into flying projectiles.
More than 1 million people have been ordered to evacuate.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said: “You have time today. Time is running out. But you do have time today to make the decision to heed any evacuation orders and to do what you need to do to protect yourself and your family.”
Biden postponed a scheduled trip to Germany and Angola to oversee preparations for the storm.