“This Would Be Disastrous”: Hurricane Milton Becomes Category 5, Possibly “Worse Than Helene”

Hurricane Milton has “rapidly intensified” into a Category 5 hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said.

The storm now has maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (250 km/h).

“10:55 CDT Monday Update: Milton rapidly intensifies into a category 5 hurricane. Data from a @53rdWRS hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to 160 mph (250 km/h) with higher gusts,” the NHC wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday (October 7).