Hurricane Milton strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane and is expected to intensify further to a Category 4, the National Hurricane Center reported early on Oct. 7, two days before the storm was expected to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Milton’s winds have neared 125 miles per hour, the center’s experts said in a morning advisory.
“Further strengthening is expected, and Milton is forecast to become an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane later today and maintain that intensity for the next couple of days,” the advisory stated.
Category 4 hurricanes bring winds of up to 156 miles per hour and can inflict “catastrophic damage.” Well-built framed homes can “sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed,” according to the center….